Natalie Massenet

Dame Natalie Massenet is a British-American fashion entrepreneur, investor, and former journalist known for her influence on the global luxury retail industry. Massenet began her career as a journalist and fashion editor, working at Women's Wear Daily, W, and later at Tatler. This editorial background, combined with her understanding of the intersection between media and commerce, contributed to the development of a transformative business model in digital fashion retail.

Massenet left journalism to found Net-a-Porter from a small studio in Chelsea, London. The concept behind the site was to allow consumers to click on an image of an outfit within a magazine format and purchase it online. Net-a-Porter grew into the Net-a-Porter Group, a global business employing more than 2,500 people, partnering with hundreds of leading fashion designers, and attracting millions of visitors each month. Under Massenet's leadership, the company expanded its online presence to include The Outnet and Mr Porter, and achieved significant sales milestones. She also established a media division at the group, launching "Porter," a shoppable magazine available in print and digital formats. Net-a-Porter has been referred to as the "barometer of fashion" by the Financial Times and credited by Vogue with revolutionizing the way designer clothes are purchased.

After the company became profitable, Net-a-Porter won "Best Fashion Shop" at the British Fashion Awards. Massenet later sold a majority stake in the company to Richemont but remained executive chairman for several years. She also served as chairman of the British Fashion Council, where she was responsible for overseeing London Fashion Week and promoting British fashion design internationally. Massenet subsequently joined the online luxury platform Farfetch as non-executive co-chairman, further establishing her role in the global fashion and e-commerce sectors.

Massenet co-founded the venture capital fund Imaginary Ventures with Nick Brown. The fund invests in early-stage, direct-to-consumer brands at the intersection of retail and technology, with a portfolio that includes digitally native brands such as Glossier, SKIMS, and Reformation. Massenet focuses on supporting consumer brands that build strong communities and leverage storytelling for growth, drawing on her experience in scaling a digital retail business.

Massenet was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire for services to the fashion industry and later Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire for services to the fashion and retail industries. Her recognitions include ranking in the WIRED 100 list of Britain's digital power players, being named one of 10 women to watch in Europe by Wall Street Journal, winning Harper's Bazaar's Innovator of the Year Award, and being listed in Vanity Fair's Hall of Fame. She has also received Glamour magazine's Women of the Year Award and was included in Time Magazine's 100 Most Influential People. Massenet continues to impact the fashion, media, and technology industries through her work as an investor and entrepreneur.