Anna Wintour's Protégé Appointed Interim Head of CFDA, Sparking Industry Debate

Hildy Kuryk, a longtime associate of Vogue editor Anna Wintour, has been named interim CEO of the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA), a move that has stirred controversy among some fashion industry insiders. Kuryk previously served as Vogue's executive director of communications from 2013 to 2017 and has also founded the consultancy firm Artemis Strategies, which has worked with Conde Nast and The Met.

The appointment follows the resignation of Steven Kolb, who stepped down after physically restraining protesters at a New York Fashion Week show for the fast fashion line Cos. Kolb had led the CFDA for two decades.

Several fashion insiders have expressed frustration with Kuryk's appointment, with some suggesting it reflects Wintour's continued influence over the industry. One anonymous insider commented, "It's obviously an Anna hire," a sentiment echoed by others who questioned if the CFDA now stands for the "Council of Fashion Designers of Anna."

"It's another opportunity for Vogue and Anna to be running everything," one insider lamented. "The fashion industry is not just Anna. There are so many people with a stake and interest in it. It's just Anna, Anna, Anna. I think people are sick of it."

Despite the criticism, Kuryk is described by several sources as a "smart" and "good executive." The CFDA and Vogue have a history of close collaboration on initiatives such as the Fashion Fund, which supports emerging designers, and recent projects like "United Flags of Fashion."

The CFDA is currently working with Karen Harvey Consulting Group to conduct a search for a permanent replacement, a process expected to take three to six months. The organization aims to find a candidate with a "fresh pair of eyes," according to one insider, while others believe a wide-ranging search is necessary to consider a broad pool of candidates for the role.