Marco Bizzarri
Outgoing President and Chief Executive, Gucci
The executive has led the Italian fashion house into the strongest period of financial growth and critical success it has seen in 20 years.
Marco Bizzarri is Gucci’s outgoing president and chief executive. After he took up the role in January 2015, one his first strategic decisions was appointing Alessandro Michele as creative director of the Italian fashion house. Under Bizzarri’s leadership, Michele’s new vision for Gucci has focused on establishing a more contemporary attitude for the house — which was met with immediate critical acclaim. In 2018, the house reported an “exceptional [financial] performance across the board,” with a first half revenue increase of 44 percent, and unveiled a plan to hit the €10 billion revenue threshold in the coming years.
Highly respected throughout the industry as both a manager of talent and an astute business brain, Bizzarri has played an increasingly integral role at Kering over the past decade. Before his Gucci appointment, Bizzarri served as the chief executive of Kering’s Luxury Couture & Leather Goods division. The Italian executive first joined the group in January 2005, when he was appointed president and chief executive of Stella McCartney . At the brand, Bizzarri presided over worldwide strategic development, expanding the label into a comprehensive lifestyle offering. In January 2009 he took on a new role as president and chief executive of Bottega Veneta. During Bizzarri’s tenure, Bottega Veneta’s revenues grew from €400 million in 2008 to €1.13 billion in 2014.
Bizzarri became a member of the executive committee of Kering in 2012; the following year he was selected to be a non-voting director of the Kering board of directors, before being appointed the chief executive of its Luxury Couture & Leather Goods division in April 2014. "In a pivotal new role for Kering, Marco Bizzarri will start to influence and shape the brands for years to come," said Jonathan Akeroyd , then-chief executive of Kering-owned Alexander McQueen . As Luxury Couture & Leather Goods chief executive, Bizzarri oversaw the chief executives of Kering brands Bottega Veneta, Saint Laurent, Alexander McQueen, Balenciaga, Brioni, Christopher Kane , Stella McCartney, Tomas Maier and Sergio Rossi.
Since his move to Gucci’s helm, the Italian label has entered a new chapter in its illustrious history. His orchestration of the brand’s turnaround capitalises on the “buzz” around Michele’s creative efforts building long-term brand desire and engagement, reducing inventory levels and upgrading the consumer experience. This also informed a decision not to markdown any of Michele’s collections. The chief executive told BoF, “The idea is to give longevity and sustainability… and also not to disappoint the customer, who might buy the item at full price and then, after two months, if it’s marked down, [would not be happy].”
In July 2023, it was announced that Bizzarri will be stepping down from the helm of Gucci.
Previously Bizzarri worked at Marithé & François Girbaud in Paris, where he was general manager, having joined from the same role at the Mandarina Duck Group. Bizzarri started his career as a consultant at Accenture. In 2016 he won the inaugural International Business Leader accolade at the British Fashion Council ’s relaunched The Fashion Awards. That same evening, Gucci secured a second win with Michele taking home the International Accessories Designer award. In 2017 he was awarded the International Business Leader Award at the Fashion Awards, and in December 2017 Bizzarri was awarded the Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur.
VITAL STATISTICS
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The people shaping the global fashion industry, curated by the editors of The Business of Fashion, based on nominations and on-the-ground intelligence from around the world.
ExploreWhat is The BoF 500?
The people shaping the global fashion industry, curated by the editors of The Business of Fashion, based on nominations and on-the-ground intelligence from around the world.
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As Gucci’s CEO Steps Down, Saint Laurent’s Chief Steps Up
Marco Bizzarri led the Italian luxury giant through a historic expansion before the business struggled to bounce back from the pandemic. Parent company Kering announced the move as part of a broader executive shakeup after which Saint Laurent CEO Francesca Bellettini will oversee all the group’s brands.
Gucci Hires Behind-the-Scenes Designer From Valentino as Creative Director
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Why Gucci Wanted a Change — And What’s Next
The market is still digesting Gucci’s move to part ways with Alessandro Michele. A slowdown at Kering’s flagship brand was complicating the company’s wider ambitions, but change comes with risk as well as potential reward.
Why Alessandro Michele Is Exiting Gucci
From 2015 to 2019, the designer’s trendsetting maximalist vision powered the modern luxury sector’s most successful turnaround ever. But more recently Kering’s flagship brand has struggled to keep up momentum.
Gucci Needs Creative Change, Says New Consensus
With Kering’s flagship brand struggling to keep up momentum, analysts and investors rallied around a report saying creative director Alessandro Michele is set to leave the company.
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The group’s focus on luxury fashion has paid off, thanks to bets on bold creativity and the designer, CEO and merchandiser ‘tripods’ it typically installs at its brands, writes Luca Solca.
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The Italian megabrand has partitioned its creative department and recruited Maria Cristina Lomanto to oversee merchandising. Is it enough to reignite consumer interest? Luca Solca does the analysis.