Jonathan Saunders Is Diane Von Furstenberg’s New Chief Creative Officer

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Jonathan Saunders is the new chief creative officer at Diane Von Furstenberg.

The 38-year-old Scottish designer shut down his own namesake brand just six months ago; his new post, which puts Saunders in charge of DVF's creative direction, is effective immediately.

"Jonathan's extraordinary passion for colours and prints, his effortless designs, and his desire to make women feel beautiful make him the perfect creative force to lead DVF into the future," Diane Von Furstenberg said in statement. "I could not have found a cooler, more intelligent designer and I cannot wait to watch him shine as our chief creative officer."

The announcement comes just months after Elle France spread a rumor that Saunders would be replacing Raf Simons as creative director of Dior. The publication posted, then swiftly deleted, a story about the rumored succession in March, leading the Internet to collectively lose its mind.

Saunders started his London-based label back in 2003 and became a part of the new class of emerging British designers alongside Christopher Kane and J.W.Anderson. He stepped down as creative director in December 2015, citing personal reasons for his decision.

As chief creative officer, Saunders will work under DVF's chief executive, Paolo Riva, and hopefully bring a much-needed fresh perspective to the American brand.

"The spirit with which this brand was founded is incredibly relevant today. I am thrilled to be part of its next chapter," Saunders said. "Diane has a unique ability to deeply connect with women and I am excited to be working with Paolo on the future of the brand."