Brian Aker

Brian Aker is Vice President for Client Relations and Development at 360bespoke. In this senior management role, he is responsible for the firm’s branding, messaging, publicity and business development, as well as recruitment. He negotiates client agreements, pitches, legacy business accounts and sales growth. Brian is a veteran of luxury sales and marketing, with 20 years of experience managing retail operations and accounts with companies as varied as Tom Ford Beauty, L’Oreal Luxury Division-Lancôme, Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Sephora. In addition to hiring and training sales executives, his leadership fostered retail growth in several U.S. markets including New York, Chicago, Cleveland, and New Orleans. He has helped major beauty companies achieve seven figure revenues through his management acumen, sales prowess and keen understanding of the competitive beauty market, was integral to the launch of Rinna beauty, and handled Lolita and Sheralven.

 My definition of heaven is … strolling aimlessly around Florence, Italy

One thing I never leave home without … Tom Ford sunglasses

First thing I do in the morning is … make a pot of Darjeeling and watch the sunrise

Favorite travel accessory … a corkscrew

My personal style is … classic 80s New England preppy

Favorite designer is … Halston in his full 1970s glory

What I wore today … Ferragamo loafers, J Brand jeans, and a simple Polo shirt

Favorite musician(s) … Mina, Claudio Baglioni, and Stevie Wonder

Ski or après ski? .. Après, bien sûr

Favorite Hotel … Claridge’s

Favorite scent and the memory it triggers … Tom Ford Venetian Bergamot which triggers memories of Italian vacations densely packed with beauty, incredible food, and the most beguiling people

Favorite drink … Campari and soda

Favorite Restaurants … La Grenouille and Balthasar

Favorite Bar … The King Cole Bar

Favorite Store … Bergdorf’s

Least Favorite drink … anything with tequila

Favorite destination … Florence, without a doubt

When I go to a five-star hotel, the first thing(s) I do is … pull the drapes closed to eliminate any natural light

Personal motto  … Never let them see you sweat

Proudest Moment … saving a friend from delicious scandal

Pet peeve(s) … slow walking pedestrians, indecisiveness, grammatical errors, crosstalk, tardiness, and religion

My favorite movie quote … “Fasten your seatbelts; it’s going to be a bumpy night”

Best thing to do on a rainy Saturday night … watch classic MGM films by candlelight with a simple Beaujolais

I most often dream about … having a backyard, a grill, several pets, and children, at which point I wake up screaming

My guiltiest guilty pleasure is … gelato