Gucci Appoints Alessio Vannetti as Chief Brand Officer: Revitalizing the Iconic Luxury Brand
Alessio Vannetti, a seasoned figure in the luxury fashion industry, is making a triumphant return to Gucci as the new Executive Vice-President and Chief Brand Officer. Vannetti, known for his previous role as Gucci’s Global Director of Communication from 2015 to 2019, rejoins the brand at a pivotal moment as Gucci undergoes a significant relaunch phase within the prestigious Kering group.
Vannetti’s reappointment follows his departure as Chief Brand Officer at Valentino in July, and he is set to take on his new responsibilities starting on September 4th. He will report directly to Jean-François Palus, who has recently assumed a leadership role at Gucci as part of a comprehensive executive reshuffling.
In his new capacity, Vannetti will lead the team responsible for brand management and customer engagement, encompassing critical areas such as defining the brand’s strategic direction, elevating its image, managing communications, overseeing innovative metaverse projects, and spearheading customer engagement initiatives.
The appointment of Vannetti represents the final piece in the puzzle for Gucci’s revamped senior executive team. The luxury label faced performance challenges in the past year, experiencing a 1% decrease in sales to €5.12 billion and a 4% dip in current operating income to €1.81 billion during H1 2023. In late 2022, Gucci made headlines with the departure of its iconic Creative Director Alessandro Michele. Sabato De Sarno, Michele’s successor, is poised to unveil his inaugural collection on September 22nd. Concurrently, Marco Bizzarri, the current CEO, will formally hand over the reins to Palus the following day. Palus has been entrusted with the task of charting a new course for Gucci and identifying a new visionary leader.
By rehiring Vannetti, Gucci is tapping into his extensive industry experience and profound understanding of the brand’s heritage. Vannetti also shares a prior working relationship with Sabato De Sarno, having collaborated at Valentino, where he oversaw both men’s and women’s collections. Vannetti’s illustrious career spans senior communications roles at esteemed fashion entities like the Zegna group and Prada, in addition to his previous roles at Gucci and Valentino as Chief Brand Officer.
Jean-François Palus, at the helm of Gucci’s transformative journey, expressed unwavering confidence in Vannetti’s appointment, stating, «His extensive experience working for leading fashion labels, combined with his profound understanding of Gucci’s heritage, make him the ideal choice to lead our brand into the future. Alessio will be working closely with myself, Sabato, and the entire team to write a new chapter for the label, focusing on Gucci’s heritage, its values, and brand image.»
With this strategic move, Gucci is setting its sights on reinvigorating the brand and reinforcing its stature as an industry leader in the luxury fashion landscape.
