Dive Brief:
- OTB Group has named Stefano Rosso the new CEO of Marni, according to a Friday news release sent to Fashion Dive.
- Rosso is currently chairman at OTB-owned Maison Margiela, board member at OTB Group and CEO of OTB’s Brave Virtual Xperience, he will remain in these positions while taking on his new role. He will replace Barbara Calò, “who will support him during the transitional period,” per the release, and he’ll report to OTB CEO Ubaldo Minelli.
- Calò started at Marni in 2016 as retail director, according to her LinkedIn page, and became managing director in 2019, replacing CEO Stefano Biondo. Calò became the brand’s CEO in 2021. Prior to joining Marni, Calò worked as retail director at Giorgio Armani, Escada and OTB-owned Jil Sander.
Dive Insight:
OTB replaced several top executives in 2023. It named a new CEO at Maison Margiela, a new CEO at Diesel North America and a new CEO at Jil Sander. In addition, the company saw the departure of Eraldo Poletto as Diesel’s global CEO after seven months in the role.
With Rosso’s new appointment at Marni, the company hopes to strengthen the leadership of the brand as “a fundamental driver for the growth of the entire OTB Group,” Minelli said in the release.
“Marni still has great potential to be explored and we are convinced that Stefano is the right person to take it forward,” Minelli said. “I want to thank Barbara Calò for leading Marni’s development in the last few years and for her work in our Group.”
Rosso is also a board member and represents OTB at Aura Blockchain Consortium, per the release. Aura uses blockchain technology to develop consumer-facing traceability and transparency solutions, and OTB is a founding member alongside LVMH, Prada Group and Richemont-owned Cartier.
Rosso is also president of the L.R. Vicenza soccer team, per the release.
“Marni is a unique brand that has built a solid global positioning in the last few years and is followed by a special community of creatives, artists and brand lovers all over the world,” Renzo Rosso, OTB’s group chairman, said in the release. “Stefano will have the important responsibility of fast-tracking Marni’s positioning on the luxury market and the new post is a further step forward in his professional career. I believe that his international experience and innovative vision will prove decisive in raising Marni’s iconic profile and reaching an even broader audience.”
In February, OTB reported fiscal 2023 net sales of 1.8 billion euros, or approximately $1.95 billion, which was a 9.1% year-over-year increase. Marni grew 8.6% for the period, and at the beginning of 2024, the brand signed a 20-year licensing agreement with Coty for the development, production and global distribution of beauty and fragrance products.
