Ermenegildo Zegna (businessman)

Gildo Zegna (left) with his cousin Paolo Zegna

Ermenegildo "Gildo" Zegna (Italian pronunciation: [(ermene)ˈdʒildо dˈdzeɲɲa]; born 30 September 1955) is an Italian entrepreneur and manager. He is Chairman and CEO of Ermenegildo Zegna Group.

Early life and education[edit]

Gildo is a grandson of Ermenegildo Zegna, who founded the family business in 1910. Born in Turin in 1955,[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, alongside his cousin Paolo Zegna, the label has undertaken a strategy of full verticalization and brand extension.[1][7] The Zegna Group acquired the high-end textile manufacturer Bonotto in 2016;[8] the historic Cappellificio Cervo hat-maker and the American label Thom Browne in 2018;[9][10] the Italian high-quality jersey fabrics manufacturer Dondi in 2019;[11] the fabric makers Tessitura Ubertino and Tessitura Biagioli Modesto in 2021.[12][13]

Besides leading the Zegna Group, Gildo Zegna serves as the Chairman of the board of directors at Thom Browne Inc. and a board member at Tom Ford International. Additionally, he holds the position of Chairman at Filati Biagioli Modesto.[13] From 2014 to 2018, he was a board member at Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV. Gildo Zegna is also a member of the Council for the United States and Italy and the Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana.[14]

Awards and honors[edit]

Gildo Zegna was awarded the title Knight of Labour (Cavaliere del lavoro) in 2011 by Italian president Giorgio Napolitano.[citation needed]

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 (2011)

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c Schwass, Joachim (2005). Wise Growth Strategies in Leading Family Businesses. Palgrave Macmillan. p. 17.
  2. ^ "Dream Weavers". Vanity Fair. Retrieved 2019-10-07.
  3. ^ Carrera, Martino (2021-08-20). "Angelo Zegna, Son of Ermenegildo Zegna, Dies at 97". WWD. Retrieved 2022-05-04.
  4. ^ a b c "2015 - Ermenegildo Zegna". Comitato Leonardo. Retrieved 2019-10-07.
  5. ^ a b "Tempting big spenders with their own language - Business - Chinadaily.com.cn". www.chinadaily.com.cn. Retrieved 2019-10-07.
  6. ^ "Gildo Zegna, Ermenegildo Zegna Group: Profile and Biography - Bloomberg Markets". Bloomberg.com. Retrieved 2019-10-07.
  7. ^ Schwass; Hillerström; Küack; Lief (2011). Wise Wealth: Creating It, Managing It, Preserving It. Palgrave Macmillan. p. 41.
  8. ^ "Ermenegildo Zegna Group acquires majority stake in Bonotto".
  9. ^ Salibian, Sandra (2018-01-22). "Ermenegildo Zegna Group-Controlled Company Takes Over Italian Hattery". WWD. Retrieved 2022-05-04.
  10. ^ "Italian tailor Ermenegildo Zegna acquires Thom Browne". Reuters. 2018-08-28. Retrieved 2022-05-04.
  11. ^ US, FashionNetwork com. "Ermenegildo Zegna buys majority stake in high-end Italian knitwear producer Dondi". FashionNetwork.com. Retrieved 2022-05-04.
  12. ^ UK, FashionNetwork com. "Zegna buys control of top-shelf fabric maker Tessitura Ubertino". FashionNetwork.com. Retrieved 2022-05-04.
  13. ^ a b US, FashionNetwork com. "Prada, Zegna buy majority stake in Filati Biagioli Modesto". FashionNetwork.com. Retrieved 2022-05-04.
  14. ^ "Consiglio di amministrazione | Ermenegildo Zegna Group". Zegna Group (in Italian). Retrieved 2022-05-04.
  15. ^ Turra, Alessandra (2016-03-08). "Gildo Zegna Honored at the Leonardo Prizes". WWD. Retrieved 2019-10-07.
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