Who was Burberry's creative director from 2001 to 2017?

Christopher Bailey was Burberry's creative director during the period referenced, from the early 2000s through 2017.

Bailey joined Burberry in May 2001 as design director and became creative director in 2004. He later became chief creative officer and played a central role in reshaping the company’s image, combining its heritage in outerwear with a more modern, digitally focused luxury identity.

In 2014, Bailey added Burberry’s chief executive role after Angela Ahrendts left to join Apple. The unusual combination made him one of the most prominent designer-executives in fashion. Marco Gobbetti replaced him as CEO in 2017, while Bailey continued in creative and presidential roles during the transition.

Bailey announced his departure in 2017 and left Burberry completely by the end of 2018. Thomas Burberry was the company’s founder, not its modern creative director; Angela Ahrendts was its chief executive, making both tempting but incorrect alternatives.