Armani appoints new board to steer fashion empire after founder’s death

Italy’s fashion house Armani said on Friday that it has appointed a new board whose role will be to guide the company at a time of transition following the death of its founder Giorgio Armani earlier this year.

The new board comprises eight members selected by the Armani Foundation and the designer’s heirs, including former Armani senior executive John Hooks and former Gucci CEO Marco Bizzarri.

The other board members are Chairman Leo Dell’Orco; CEO and managing director Giuseppe Marsocci; Armani’s niece Silvana and his nephew Andrea Camerana; Yoox founder Federico Marchetti and businessman Angelo Moratti.

Following Armani’s death at 91 in September, the group appointed long-time manager Marsocci as the new CEO. Marsocci and the new board take the lead at a crucial time for the fashion empire, one of the most valuable and best-known companies in the country.

Armani instructed his heirs to sell an initial 15% minority stake in his vast fashion business within 18 months of his death, with preference given to the eyewear giant Essilor-Luxottica, the French conglomerate LVMH or the cosmetics company L’Oreal.

Dell’Orco said on Friday that the composition of the new board “represents the best guarantee for the continuation, enhancement and modernisation of the idea of beauty, the business model and the ethical values developed by Mr Armani over 50 years of history”.