Marco Bizzarri
Marco Bizzarri (born 19 August 1962 in Reggio Emilia, Italy) is an Italian businessman, President and CEO of Gucci since January 2015.[1] He previously was the President and CEO of Stella McCartney (2005-2009) and Bottega Veneta (2009-2014), and joined Kering’s Executive Committee in 2012.
Marco Bizzarri | |
---|---|
Marco Bizzarri in 2018 | |
Born | 19 August 1962 |
Nationality | Italian |
Years active | 1986 – present |
Title | President and CEO of Gucci |
Board member of | Kering Executive Committee |
Biography
Early career
Marco Bizzarri started his career as a consultant at the financial advisory firm Accenture in 1986. In 1993, he joined the Bologna-based Mandarina Duck group, and later became CEO of the group. In 2004, he became general manager of the designer brand Marithé et François Girbaud.[2][3]
CEO of Kering’s brands
In 2005, Marco Bizzarri was named CEO of Stella McCartney.[2][3] Under his management, the company turned a profit for the first time in 2007.[4] He developed a lifestyle-oriented brand and drove its international development, including the opening of a store in Japan in 2008.[5]
In January 2009, Marco Bizzarri became the president and CEO of Bottega Veneta.[6] Amid a global economic downturn, he rapidly changed the distribution of the brand, repositioning it in Europe, and worked on a less conservative buying, thus relieving financial stress and enabling new investments.[7] In 4 years, alongside creative director Tomas Maier, Marco Bizzarri maintained Bottega Veneta’s edge for Italian-made leather craftsmanship,[8] drove growth in Asia,[9] opened a flagship store in Milan,[10] and new eco-friendly headquarters in Vicenza.[11] In 2012, Bottega Veneta’s sales reached the $1 billion mark.[12]
In 2012, Marco Bizzarri became a member of the Executive Committee of Kering.[13]
In April 2014, Marco Bizzarri was named CEO of Kering’s newly-created Couture and Leather Goods division, directly supervising most of Kering’s luxury brands.[14][15]
Head of Gucci
In December 2014, Kering named Marco Bizzarri CEO of its flagship luxury brand Gucci.[1] His first move was to name a 12-year Gucci member of the creative team, Alessandro Michele, creative director of the brand,[16] who successfully managed to renew the brand’s proposition and popularity with a «geek chic» approach.[17]
Credited for the quick turnaround of Gucci's profitability,[18] Marco Bizzarri stopped the brand's markdown policy,[19] favored cross-gendered collections and unified fashion shows[20] and banned the use of fur by the brand.[21] Gucci also amplified its digital strategy to grow its customer-base on social networks.[22]
In 2016, Gucci's sales rose 13% to €4.38 billion,[23] and in 2017, sales rose 45% to €6.21 billion.[24]
Awards
- 2017, 2016: International Business Leader at the Fashion Awards[25][26]
- 2017: Knight of the Legion of Honour (France)[27]
- 2017: WWD Edward Nardoza Honor for CEO Creative Leadership[28]
- 2017 : Most Creative People in Business by Fast Company[29]
- 2015: Humanitarian of the Year award by the United Nations Association[30]
- 2018: Business Leader for Gucci by The Fashion Awards 2018[31]
References
- Gucci hires Marco Bizzarri as new brand head, creative director Frida Giannini quits, Straitstimes.com, 12 December 2014
- (in French) Marco Bizzarri, Lesechos.fr, 24 November 2004
- (in Italian) Stella McCartney nomina Marco Bizzarri nuovo ad, Pambianconews.com
- Stella McCartney posts first ever profit, Marieclaire.co.uk, 3 November 2007
- Paul Mcinnes, Misha Janette, Stella in Ginza, Japantimes.co.uk, 11 March 2008
- Stella McCartney poaches Lanvin director as CEO, Reuters.com, 1 December 2008
- Bag-maker’s value proposition tilts to timeless pieces, Ft.com, 1 January 2000
- Manoj Nair, Bottega Veneta time-crafted strategy pays off, Gulfnews.com, 25 November 2013
- Bottega Veneta’s Understated Luxury Appeals to China’s Sophisticated Fashionistas, Red-luxury.com, 26 June 2012
- Roger Scoble, Bottega Veneta Opens Largest Flagship Store In Milan, Pursuitist.com
- Nikki Hess, Bottega Veneta’s New, Eco-Friendly Headquarters, Mamasarollingstone.com, 18 November 2013
- Suleman Anaya, Bottega Veneta Crosses the $1 Billion Mark, Businessoffashion.com, 22 February 2013
- Sophie Doran, The Latest Appointments: Givenchy, Jil Sander & Yves Saint Laurent, Luxurysociety.com, 20 March 2012
- Anthony DeMarco, Kering Reorganizes To Focus On Luxury Goods, Forbes.com, 29 April 2014
- Kering’s Marco Bizzarri has the billion-euro touch, Ft.com, 11 May 2014
- Imran Amed, Reinventing Gucci, Businessoffashion.com, 22 September 2015
- Gillian Brett, Gucci's Big Plans Revealed, Vogue.co.uk, 6 June 2016
- Marion Hume, How Gucci's makeover man Marco Bizzarri resurrected the brand, Afr.com, 31 May 2016
- Limei Hoang, Marco Bizzarri on Gucci’s Remarkable Turnaround, Businessoffashion.com, 27 October 2016
- Vanessa Friedman, Gucci Calls for End to Separation of the Sexes on the Runway, Nytimes.com, 5 April 2016
- Gucci Announces It Will Be Going Fur-Free, Vogue.co.uk, 11 October 2017
- Michael Beach, Gucci offers digital marketing, company culture inspiration, Inma.org, 19 June 2017
- Matthew Dalton, Gucci Adds Sparkle to Kering Results, Wsj.com, 10 February 2017
- Harriet Agnew, Pinault looks ahead at Louis Vuitton as Gucci grows, Ft.com, 13 February 2018
- 2017 Winners, Fashionawards.com
- Samantha Conti, Gucci, Demna Gvasalia Big Winners at Fashion Awards 2016 in London, Wwd.com, 5 December 2016
- Sandra Salibian, Marco Bizzarri to Receive French Legion of Honor, Wwd.com, 6 June 2017
- Luisa Zargani, Marco Bizzarri Receives WWD Edward Nardoza Honor for CEO Creative Leadership, Wwd.com, 24 October 2017
- Rose Pastore, >Be Inspired By These Creative Leaders Who Are Changing The World, Fastcompany.com, 24 January 2017
- Leigh Nordstrom, Gucci’s Marco Bizzarri Honored at the United Nations Humanitarian Dinner, Wwd.com, 23 October 2015
- "The Fashion Awards 2018: The Winners". Vogue. Retrieved 10 December 2018.