CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Board of Directors
and Senior Management
Executive Directors are primarily responsible for all day-to-day operations of the Company, while Non-Executive Directors have oversight responsibilities.
For more details about the role and functioning of the Board of Directors, please refer to the Articles of Association and the Regulations of the Board of Directors.
Ermenegildo Zegna
CHAIRPERSON, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Gildo Zegna is currently the Chairman and CEO of Ermenegildo Zegna Group.
A member of the Zegna family’s third generation, Mr. Zegna oversees the company founded by his grandfather and namesake in 1910. In December 2021, he led the Group through its public listing on the New York Stock Exchange, making history as the first Italian luxury group listed on the world’s largest stock exchange.
Mr. Zegna was born in Turin, Italy, in 1955, and graduated from the University of London in 1978. After starting his career at Bloomingdale’s in New York, he joined the family business in 1982, leading the Company’s business in North America and then in Spain. In 1989, he joined the company’s Board of Directors and served as Co-Chief Executive Officer from 1998 to 2006.
In addition to his role at the Group, he is also Chairman of the board of directors of Monterubello, Thom Browne Inc. and, starting from 2023, of Tom Ford International LLC. He also served as a member of the board of directors of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V. from 2014 to 2021. In 2021, he was appointed as President of Filati Biagioli Modesto S.r.l.
Since 2013, he has been a member of the Strategic Committee and Advisor of Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana (The National Chamber for Italian Fashion) and has been an active member of the Council for the United States and Italy. In 2011, Mr. Zegna was nominated Cavaliere del Lavoro by the President of the Italian Republic and, in 2016, received the Leonardo Prize, a prestigious award given to an Italian leader who has meaningfully promoted Italy’s image on a global scale, from the President of the Italian Republic.
Mr. Zegna oversaw the successful acquisition and integration of Thom Browne in 2018, the rebranding of Zegna in 2021 and, more recently, the TFI Acquisition and entry into the TFF License. Prior to this, Mr. Zegna was actively involved in the Company’s expansion in America and Europe, and in 1991 he oversaw the opening of the brand’s first store in China.
Under his leadership, the Group – which started as a single wool mill in Trivero, Italy – has grown into a leading Italian luxury group building on a portfolio of three complementary luxury brands and encompassing a one-of-a-kind Made in Italy Luxury Textile Laboratory Platform that produces some of the world’s finest textiles and fabrics.
Sergio P. Ermotti
LEAD NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Mr. Ermotti is currently a member of the Board, a position he has held since 2021. Mr. Ermotti serves as the Chair (voorzitter) under the Dutch law and has been granted the title of Lead Non-Executive Director.
Mr. Ermotti has been Group CEO of UBS Group AG and President of the Executive Board of UBS AG since April 2023. He was also the Group CEO from 2011 to 2020. He re-joined UBS from Swiss Re Ltd, where he served as Chairman of the Board of Directors from April 2021 to April 2023.
Prior to joining UBS in 2011, he was at UniCredit Group, where from 2007 to 2010 he served as Group Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Head of Corporate & Investment Banking and Private Banking, after having served as Head of the Markets & Investment Banking Division since 2005. Between 1987 and 2004, he held various positions at Merrill Lynch & Co. in the areas of equity derivatives and capital markets. He became Co-Head of Global Equity Markets and a member of the Executive Management Committee for Global Markets & Investment Banking in 2001.
Born in Lugano (Switzerland) in 1960, Mr. Ermotti is a Swiss-certified banking expert and a graduate of the Advanced Management Program at Oxford University.
Andrea C. Bonomi
NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Mr. Bonomi is currently a member of the Board, a position he has held since 2021..
Mr. Bonomi is Investindustrial’s Founder and Chairman of the Industrial and Advisory Teams’ Committees. Prior to founding Investindustrial in 1990, Mr. Bonomi was responsible for the Saffa Group (a diversified holding company) and investments in Europe and the United States. Prior to Saffa, he worked at Kleinwort Benson in London, where he was responsible for Spain and Italy, and at Lazard Frères & Co. in New York.
Mr. Bonomi has been a private equity investor for 30 years and has served as chairman or director in a number of industrial and financial companies, including BPM, RCS MediaGroup, Permasteelisa, 21 Investimenti, 21 Centrale Partners and Inversiones Ibersuizas.
He is a Trustee of the New York University, a member of the NYU President’s Global Council and Private Equity Awards “Hall of Fame” (2018) inductee.
Born in New York City (USA) in 1965, Mr. Bonomi holds a B.Sc. in Business Administration from New York University.
Angelica Cheung
NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Ms. Cheung is currently a member of the Board, a position she has held since 2021, and also serves as member of the Governance and Sustainability Committee.
Ms. Cheung was the founding Editor-in-Chief of Vogue China and served as its Editor-in-Chief from 2005 to 2020.
In February 2021, Ms. Cheung joined Sequoia Capital China as Venture Partner where she focuses on investments in the fashion/lifestyle/entertainment industry, especially the new generation of Chinese innovation and international brands seeking expansion in China. Since June 2021, Ms. Cheung has served on the board of directors of SSense, a Montreal-based fashion platform. In 2022, she was appointed as a member of board of directors of AMI 9 Holding (AMI Paris), Rare Inc. (WE11DONE) and Holzweizer Oslo. She is Asia ambassador for the British Fashion Council, serves on the Advisory Board of Advance Global Alumni and is a strategic advisor to several international brands.
Born in Beijing (China) in 1966, Ms. Cheung holds degrees in law and literature from Beijing University as well as a M.B.A. from the University of South Australia.
Domenico De Sole
NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Mr. De Sole is currently a member of the Board, a position he has held since 2005, and also serves as member of the Compensation Committee.
Mr. De Sole is the co-founder of luxury retailer Tom Ford International, LLC and has been the Chairman of its board of directors from its formation in 2005 until the consummation of the TFI Acquisition. During this time, Mr. De Sole also advised private equity firms in transactions in the field of fashion business.
From 1984 to 1994, Mr. De Sole served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Gucci America, and, from 1994 to 2004, he served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Gucci Group, which during his tenure made significant acquisitions such as YSL, Bottega Veneta and Balenciaga. Mr. De Sole has served on the board of directors of numerous public and private company, and he currently serves as director of Pirelli & C. S.p.A. He formerly served as Chairman of Sotheby’s, and director of Conde Nast, Bausch & Lomb Incorporated, Delta Airlines, Inc., Gap, Inc., Newell Brands Inc. and Procter & Gamble.
Born in Rome (Italy) in 1944, Mr. De Sole graduated from the University of Rome with a law degree and received a L.L.M. from Harvard Law School where he also currently serves as a member of the Dean’s Advisory Board.
Ronald B. Johnson
NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Mr. Johnson is currently a member of the Board, a position he has held since 2019, and also serves as member of the Audit Committee and the Governance and Sustainability Committee. Mr. Johnson is also a member of the board of directors of Ermenegildo Zegna Corporation, a subsidiary of the Company in the United States.
Mr. Johnson is the founder of Enjoy Technology Inc., where he served as Chief Executive Officer from 2014, through the sale of the majority of the assets of the company in 2022 and the shutdown of the remainder of the company in the same year. He also serves as a member of the board of directors of Globality, Inc. and Fish Six Restaurant Corp (d/b/a The Melt).
Previously, Mr. Johnson served as Chief Executive Officer of JCPenney Company, Inc. from November 2011 to April 2013, Senior Vice President of Retail at Apple Inc. from January 2000 to October 2011, and Vice President of Merchandising at Target Corporation from September 1984 to December 1999.
Born in Minneapolis (USA) in 1958, Mr. Johnson holds a B.A. in Economics from Stanford University and a M.B.A. from Harvard Business School.
Valerie A. Mars
NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
CHAIR OF THE AUDIT COMMITEE
Ms. Mars is currently a member of the Board, a position she has held since 2021. Ms. Mars also serves as chairperson of the Audit Committee and member of the Compensation Committee.
Ms. Mars currently serves as Senior Vice President & Head of Corporate Development for Mars, Incorporated, a diversified food business operating in over 120 countries, where she focuses on acquisitions, joint ventures and divestitures for the company.
Previously, Ms. Mars served as a member of the board of directors of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V. from 2014 until its merger with Peugeot S.A. in 2021, Ahlstrom-Munksjo, a Finnish/Swedish listed specialty paper business, from 2018 until its delisting in 2021, and Celebrity Inc., a NASDAQ listed company, from 1994 to 2000.
Ms. Mars is also involved in a number of community and educational organizations and currently serves on the board of directors of Conservation International, where she chairs the Audit Committee.
Born in New York City (USA) in 1959, Ms. Mars holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Yale University and a M.B.A. from the Columbia Business School.
Michele Norsa
NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
CHAIR OF THE GOVERNANCE & SUSTAINABILITY COMMITEE
Mr. Norsa is currently a member of the Board, a position he has held since 2017. He also serves as chairperson of the Governance and Sustainability Committee and member of the Audit Committee.
Until December 31, 2021, Mr. Norsa was Executive Vice Chairman of Salvatore Ferragamo S.p.A., where he previously served as Chief Executive Officer from 2006 to 2016. In 2022, he was appointed as a member of the board of directors of Palazzo Feroni Finanziaria S.p.A., engaged in the business of real estate and luxury hospitality. He is also director of Horacio Pagani S.p.A. and member of the International Advisory Board of the China Europe International Business School in Shanghai (CEIBS). Furthermore, he is a member of the board of directors of Azimut Benetti S.p.A. Since September 2023, Mr. Norsa has become Global Senior Advisor of the Boston Consulting Group. Previously, Mr. Norsa served on the board of directors of Thom Browne Inc., Rocco Forte Hotels, Oettinger Davidoff Group and Hugo Boss, and successfully led two IPOs in the luxury sector (Salvatore Ferragamo S.p.A. in 2011 and Valentino Fashion Group S.p.A. in 2005).
Mr. Norsa has extensive experience in the fashion, consumer goods and publishing sectors with Marzotto, Benetton, Sergio Tacchini, Rizzoli Editore and Mondadori Editore.
Born in Lecco (Italy) in 1948, Mr. Norsa graduated in Business and Economics from Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore in Milan.
Henry Peter
NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
CHAIR OF THE COMPENSATION COMMITEE
Mr. Peter is currently a member of the Board, a position he has held since 2014. He also serves as chairperson of the Compensation Committee and as director of Consitex SA, a subsidiary of the Company.
Mr. Peter serves on the board of directors of Swiss Life AG (Switzerland’s largest life insurance company) and, among others, of Banque Lombard Odier & Cie SA, where he chairs the Audit Committee, and is Chairman of the board of directors of Sigurd Rück AG, a captive reinsurance company of the Italian Saipem S.p.A. Group. He is also Chairman of the board of directors of Brembo Reinsurance AG, a captive reinsurance company of the Italian Group Brembo S.p.A. He was a member of the Swiss Takeover Board between 2004 and 2015 and has been a member of the Sanctions Commission of the SIX Swiss Exchange since 2007.
Born in Boston (USA) in 1957, Mr. Peter holds a Ph.D. in law from the University of Geneva. Since 1988, Mr. Peter has been a partner in a Lugano law firm, currently Kellerhals Carrard Lugano SA, and in 2022 he joined the board of directors of the Swiss cooperative Kellerhals Carrard Genossenschaft. He has also served since 1997 as professor of business law, and since 2017 as President of the Geneva Center for Philanthropy, at the University of Geneva.
Mr. Peter is Vice-Chairman of Swiss Sports Disciplinary Chamber of the Swiss Olympic Association in charge of disciplinary cases, a position he has held since 2001. He is also Chairman of the board of the Foundation for the Lugano Faculties of the Swiss Italian University, member of the audit committee of the University of Geneva and Chairman of the board of the Foundation of the Swiss Italian Art Museum (MASI).
Anna Zegna
NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Ms. Zegna is currently a member of the Board, a position she has held since 2018.
Ms. Zegna is also Sustainability Officer of Oasi Zegna, a position she has held since 2014; prior to that, she directed the Store Planning at Zegna from 1995 to 1998 and the Group Image until 2017. Ms. Zegna is a member of the board of directors of Monterubello as well as Chairman of Fondazione Zegna, where she oversees the planning and coordination of local and international humanitarian initiatives related to conservation, sustainable development and education. She is also member of the board of directors of the non-profit foundation Fondo Ambiente Italiano (FAI) and of San Patrignano Foundation.
Previously, Ms. Zegna headed the public relations department of Gianni Versace from 1982 to 1984 before joining Zegna in 1984 as Head of Corporate Advertising and External Relations Manager. In 1993, along with Laura Zegna, Ms. Zegna developed the Oasi Zegna project, which has over the years become a model of environmental sustainability. In 1998, she won a Green Globe Award for her work at the Company in support of environmental issues and was appointed to the management committee of Touring Club Italiano in 2002. In 2007, in recognition of her social commitment, she received a MarcoPolo Award from the prestigious Babson College in Boston. In 2023, she was nominated by AIDAF (the Italian Association of Family Businesses) as Ambassador of Italian Enterprise Culture.
Born in Turin (Italy) in 1957, Ms. Zegna holds a degree in Political Sciences from the University of Lausanne and did her post-graduate studies in advertising and marketing at Watford College.
Mr. Ermenegildo Zegna di Monte Rubello and Ms. Anna Zegna di Monte Rubello are siblings.
Paolo Zegna
NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Mr. Paolo Zegna is currently a member of the Board, where he has served as Chairman from 2006 until December 2021. Previously, he served as a member of the Board from 1989 to 1998 and was Co-Chief Executive Officer from 1998 to 2006.
Mr. Paolo Zegna is also Vice-Chairman of the board of directors of Monterubello and Chairman of the board of directors of Lanificio Ermenegildo Zegna e Figli S.p.A., Achill Station Pty Ltd. and Achill Land Pty Ltd., and a member of the board of directors of Bonotto S.p.A., Gruppo Dondi S.p.A. and Elah Dufour S.p.A.
He has been a member of the board of Sistema Moda Italia since 2005, which represents companies of the entire supply chain and is the official interlocutor in relations with Italian and international institutions and organizations. He also served as Vice President of the Altagamma Foundation, which is committed to gathering high-end cultural and creative companies and increasing the competitiveness of the high-end industry.
Born in Turin (Italy) in 1956, Mr. Paolo Zegna holds a degree in Economics from the University of Geneva.
Mr. Paolo Zegna di Monte Rubello is a cousin to Mr. Ermenegildo Zegna di Monte Rubello and Ms. Anna Zegna di Monte Rubello.
Rodrigo Bazan
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF THOM BROWNE
Mr. Bazan is currently the Chief Executive Officer of Thom Browne, a position he has held since 2016. Under his leadership, Thom Browne has expanded in the DTC channel, opening directly-operated stores in North America, Europe, UK, Japan and Greater China Region, Middle East and with partners in Hong-Kong SAR and South East Asia, as well as in South Korea (where the 17 retail stores previously managed by Samsung under franchising arrangements were acquired by the Group to be directly operated by Thom Browne Korea Ltd. from July 1, 2023). Mr. Bazan also led the digital retail footprint for e-business, including partnering with platforms like Farfetch and TMall.
Before joining Thom Browne, Mr. Bazan served as President at Alexander Wang from 2010 to 2016, where he oversaw merchandising, marketing and sales, finance/operations, digital, as well as the company’s retail expansion. Prior to his appointment at Alexander Wang, Mr. Bazan served as Vice President and General Manager of Marc Jacobs International for Europe, the Middle East and India from 2007 to 2010. Previously, he served as the General Manager and Chief Financial Officer of Alexander McQueen from 2003 to 2007, where he oversaw both the wholesale ready-to-wear and accessories team and the retail network of flagship stores.
Since 2012, Mr. Bazan has served as a member of the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund business advisory committee and has been actively involved in the Fund’s mentorship program. Since 2015, Mr. Bazan has been recognized by The Business of Fashion in the “BoF 500,” an annual list of the most influential people who are shaping the global fashion industry.
Born in Mar del Plata (Argentina) in 1975, Mr. Bazan graduated from the Universidad Argentina de la Empresa in Buenos Aires.
Thom Browne
FOUNDER AND CHIEF CREATIVE OFFICER OF THOM BROWNE
Mr. Browne is the Founder and Chief Creative Officer of Thom Browne, a position he has held since 2002, before the acquisition of Thom Browne by the Company in November 2018.
Mr. Browne is widely recognized for challenging and modernizing today’s uniform, the suit. Mr. Browne began his eponymous business in the early 2000s with five suits in a small “by appointment” shop in New York City’s West Village and, in the following years, expanded it to include complete ready-to-wear and accessories collections for both men and women. Mr. Browne has also become known for his highly conceptual runway presentations, which have gained global attention for their thought provoking and dramatic themes and settings.
In October 2022, Mr. Browne was elected chairman of the Council of Fashion Designers of America, succeeding Mr. Tom Ford starting from January 1, 2023.
Born in Allentown, Pennsylvania, in 1965, Mr. Browne holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Notre Dame.
Franco Ferraris
HEAD OF TEXTILES
Mr. Ferraris is currently the Head of Textiles, a position he has held since 1992.
Mr. Ferraris has served as the Chief Executive Officer and General Manager of Lanificio Ermenegildo Zegna e Figli S.p.A. since 1992, where he has been serving as Managing Director starting from 2022. He is also the Chairman of the board of directors of Bonotto S.p.A., Gruppo Dondi S.p.A. and Tessitura Ubertino S.r.l. Mr. Ferraris also serves on the board of directors of a number of private companies in the industrial services and real estate sector, including Finissaggio e Tintoria Ferraris S.p.A., Pettinatura di Verrone S.r.l., F2 S.r.l., Immobiliare Giulia s.s. and Immobiliare Magda s.s.
From 2015 to 2023, he served as the Chairman of Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Biella, which plays an active role in supporting initiatives aimed at promoting the cultural, economic and social growth of the Province of Biella.
Born in Turin (Italy) in 1956, Mr. Ferraris holds a degree in Business and Economics from the University of Ancona. Mr. Franco Ferraris is the spouse of Ms. Anna Zegna di Monte Rubello.
Lelio Gavazza
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF TOM FORD FASHION
Lelio Gavazza is the Chief Executive Officer of TOM FORD FASHION, a position he has held since September 2023. He is currently responsible for the end-to-end management of the TOM FORD FASHION business, from collection development to merchandising, through production as well as retail and wholesale distribution.
Previously, he spent 14 years at Bulgari, where he consolidated his strong expertise in luxury with a focus on jewelry, watches, accessories, and perfumes in both retail and wholesale. In such role, Mr. Gavazza extensively promoted the Bulgari brand and Made in Italy in the world leveraging on the Italian DNA of the company and promoting the Italian lifestyle as a key element of differentiation. During his time at Bulgari, he covered several roles from Managing Director of Greater China to Managing Director for Europe, Middle East and Africa and to Executive Vice President Sales and Retail for Bulgari Group in 2017. Prior to Bulgari, he was Chief Executive Officer of SharMoon / Ermenegildo Zegna Garments Ltd. in China for more than two years, Chief Operations Officer of Mantero Seta S.p.A. for five years and a member of the Board of Directors of Mantero Orient, operating in Shanghai (China) from 2002 to 2007.
An engineer by background, before entering the luxury arena, Mr. Gavazza gained experience in the chemical field, focusing on activities in the supply chain, with responsibilities in different roles, and a four-year experience in Strategic Consulting.
Alessandro Sartori
ZEGNA ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Mr. Sartori is currently the Artistic Director of ZEGNA, a position he has held since 2016, and oversees all the brands and creative functions in the ZEGNA branded products product line. He started his professional career at the Company in 1989 and worked as a menswear designer for over 10 years. In 2003, Mr. Sartori was appointed Creative Director of Z Zegna. During his eight-year tenure as Creative Director, he oversaw the launch of the brand, including its first runway show in New York City in 2007.
In 2011, Mr. Sartori joined Berluti, a Paris-based menswear brand which had become part of the LVMH group in 2003, as Artistic Director where he was responsible for developing the brand.
Born in Trivero (Italy) in 1966, Mr. Sartori studied fashion design at Istituto Marangoni Milano.
Gianluca Ambrogio Tagliabue
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER AND CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
Mr. Tagliabue currently serves as Group Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer, positions he has held since January 2020.
Mr. Tagliabue joined the Group in January 2016 as Chief Financial Officer and Head of Business Development. Before joining the Group, Mr. Tagliabue was the Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President, Strategy and Shared Services of Oakley Group from 2012 to 2015, based in California, USA. Previously, he served as Group Business Development Director and International Business Development Director (Retail, Sun & Luxury) of the Luxottica Group from January 2011 to June 2012 and from June 2010 to December 2010, respectively. Mr. Tagliabue has over 10 years of experience in strategic consulting, having worked at Value Partners, in Italy and Brazil, as Partner from 2005 to 2010 and as Senior Manager from 2001 to 2005, and earlier at Gemini Consulting.
Born in Milan (Italy) in 1968, Mr. Tagliabue holds a degree in Business Administration from Bocconi University in Milan.