Ermenegildo Zegna (businessman)
Ermenegildo "Gildo" Zegna (Italian pronunciation: [(ermene)ˈdʒildо dˈdzeɲɲa]; born 30 September 1955) is an Italian entrepreneur and manager, Chairman and CEO of Ermenegildo Zegna Group. As a third-generation member of his family, he oversees the company, which was founded by his grandfather and namesake in 1910 in Trivero.
Early life and education
[edit]Gildo is a grandson of Ermenegildo Zegna, who founded the family business in 1910. Born in Turin in 1955 and grown in Biella,[1] Gildo Zegna's father, Angelo, along with his brother Aldo, had been overseeing the business since the mid-1960s. Angelo served as the Company's honorary chairman until his death in 2021.[1][2][3]
Gildo Zegna graduated with a degree in economics from the University of London in 1978. In 1981, he completed a managerial program at the Harvard Business School.[4]
Career
[edit]Gildo Zegna entered the family business in 1982, assuming the role of President of Ermenegildo Zegna Corporation, where he managed the distribution of Zegna products in the U.S. and Canada.[4]
From 1986 to 1989, he served as CEO of Italco SA, supervising the distribution of Zegna products in Spain.[4][5]
Gildo Zegna has been a board member of Ermenegildo Zegna Group since 1989, becoming chief executive officer in 1997.[6]
Under his guidance the Group - born as a textile company which then developed into high-end menswear - has grown to become one of the main global players in the luxury sector, listed on the New York Stock Exchange,[7] also thanks to the acquisition of Thom Browne in 2018[8] and more recently, in 2023, of the TOM FORD FASHION business.[9]
In December 2021 the Group was listed on the New York Stock Exchange; subsequently, Ermenegildo Zegna also assumed the role of Chairman in addition to that of CEO. [10]
Assignments and honors
[edit]Gildo Zegna was awarded the title Knight of Labour (Cavaliere del lavoro) in 2011 by Italian president Giorgio Napolitano.[11]
Besides leading the Zegna Group, Gildo Zegna serves as the Chairman of the board of directors at Thom Browne Inc., at Monterubello (the family company)[12] and at Tom Ford International. Additionally, he holds the position of Chairman at Filati Biagioli Modesto.[13] Gildo Zegna is also a member of the Strategic Committee and Advisor of Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana (The National Chamber for Italian Fashion).[14]
From 2014 to 2018, he was a board member at Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV.
In 2016, he received the Leonardo Prize from Italian President Sergio Mattarella, a prestigious award given to an Italian personality who has acted in a significant way to promote the image of Italy in the world.[15]
Personal life
[edit]He is married and has two sons.[5]
Honours
[edit]- Knight of the Order of Merit for Labour (May 30, 2011)
References
[edit]- ^ a b Schwass, Joachim (2005). Wise Growth Strategies in Leading Family Businesses. Palgrave Macmillan. p. 17.
- ^ "Dream Weavers". Vanity Fair. Retrieved 2019-10-07.
- ^ Carrera, Martino (2021-08-20). "Angelo Zegna, Son of Ermenegildo Zegna, Dies at 97". WWD. Retrieved 2022-05-04.
- ^ a b c "2015 - Ermenegildo Zegna". Comitato Leonardo. Retrieved 2019-10-07.
- ^ a b "Tempting big spenders with their own language - Business - Chinadaily.com.cn". www.chinadaily.com.cn. Retrieved 2019-10-07.
- ^ "Gildo Zegna, Ermenegildo Zegna Group: Profile and Biography - Bloomberg Markets". Bloomberg.com. Retrieved 2019-10-07.
- ^ Snelling, Brin. "How Zegna, Italian Luxury Retailer, Is Reinventing Itself As A Public Company". Forbes. Retrieved 2024-07-22.
- ^ "Italian tailor Ermenegildo Zegna acquires Thom Browne | Reuters". web.archive.org. 2023-07-05. Retrieved 2024-07-22.
- ^ Tognini, Giacomo. "Tom Ford's $2.8 Billion Deal To Sell His Fashion Brand To Estée Lauder Makes Him A Billionaire". Forbes. Retrieved 2024-07-22.
- ^ "Consiglio di amministrazione | Ermenegildo Zegna Group". Zegna Group (in Italian). Retrieved 2024-07-22.
- ^ "Boglione, Paglieri e Zegnanuovi cavalieri del lavoro". la Repubblica (in Italian). 2011-05-31. Retrieved 2024-07-22.
- ^ "La Ermenegildo Zegna vale più di due miliardi - ItaliaOggi.it". web.archive.org. 2024-07-22. Retrieved 2024-07-22.
- ^ US, FashionNetwork com. "Prada, Zegna buy majority stake in Filati Biagioli Modesto". FashionNetwork.com. Retrieved 2022-05-04.
- ^ "Consiglio di amministrazione | Ermenegildo Zegna Group". Zegna Group (in Italian). Retrieved 2022-05-04.
- ^ Turra, Alessandra (2016-03-08). "Gildo Zegna Honored at the Leonardo Prizes". WWD. Retrieved 2019-10-07.