Lectra has promoted Jean-Patrice Gros as director of Lectra Northern Europe, tasked with developing the technology company's relationships with brands, retailers and manufacturers.

Based in Belgium, Jean-Patrice Gros will oversee a territory that includes the UK, Belgium, Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.

Having worked at Lectra for the past 30 years, he was most recently director for Middle East and North Africa, helping Lectra's customers create value and strengthen their links with European manufacturers.

"Years spent in countries such as Turkey and Tunisia has led me to work directly with companies that pay particular attention to manufacturing processes," Gros says. "Thanks to this experience, I am able to advise export-oriented companies or retailers that aim to develop their own brand, which, today, will be beneficial to Lectra customers in Northern Europe."

Fashion companies are increasingly attracted to the quality of Lectra's collaborative design and product development software, with particular interest in its product life cycle management (PLM) solution.