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
editGildo 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
editGildo 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
editGildo 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
editHe 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.