Ponzano, April 24, 2012. Alessandro Benetton, 48, is the
new Chairman of Benetton Group. Appointed by the Benetton
Group Board of Directors, with the unanimous decision of
all members of the Benetton family, he succeeds the Founder
Luciano Benetton.
Alessandro Benetton will guide the evolution of the company
in a scenario of changing markets, complicated by the
credit crisis, in order to move swiftly and decisively
towards growth and improved profitability, focussing on
strengthening the business model on which the history and
success of the group has been based.
The first step in this new direction is the delisting
operation carried out in spring 2012, aimed at the purchase
by Edizione, the Benetton family holding company, of the
entire share capital of the Benetton Group to facilitate
the future competitive structure.
"Leaving the Stock Market and investing in ourselves and in
the future of the Group" - declares Alessandro Benetton -
"is a clear demonstration of our commitment, determination
and intention to move beyond this complex phase. With the
two-fold objective of continuity and renewal, we want to
invest in our strengths, in particular our worldwide
presence, our invaluable network of commercial and
industrial partners, the global fame and reputation of our
brands, and our colourful fashions which offer quality and
style at the best price. We are tackling this critical time
with a cohesive, expert and motivated organization,
starting with the increasingly international top management
team, which I started to put together in just the last two
years. This team has the ability to connect with the world
and to take a new and astute look at young people and the
digital future".
Alessandro Benetton was Executive Deputy Chairman of
Benetton Group since 2007, and has served on the board of
directors since 1998, with the objective - among others -
of guiding the company's transition towards a structure
with a clear distinction between the roles of shareholder
and management. That is why the Benetton Group is now a
company with strong, responsible management, in which the
family maintains the role of active shareholder, key to
establishing the direction of strategic development. With a
network of 6,500 stores in 120 countries, and total
revenues exceeding 2 billion euro, Benetton is one of the
best known Italian apparel brands in the world.
In 1992, before joining the Group, Alessandro Benetton
established his equity investment holding company called
"21 Investimenti" (inspired by the imminent new century) to
emphasize his forward-looking attitude and willingness to
break the mould, adopting an entrepreneurial approach to
providing venture capital to companies in which he
believed, enabling them to grow at an international level.
Today, the 21 Group represents a network of private equity
funds, with combined assets totalling over 1.3 billion euro
and activities mainly in France, Italy and, in the near
future, Poland. In 2010, this innovative path earned him
the title of Cavaliere del Lavoro from the President of the
Italian Republic, Giorgio Napolitano. He is one of the
youngest in Italian history to receive this honour.
Alessandro Benetton's capacity for risk, changing the rules
of the game, has its roots in the family, which from a
young age transmitted to him the value of independent
choices and of looking to the future with an open mind.
After studies in the United States (degree from Boston
University and MBA from Harvard) and experience at Goldman
Sachs International in London, he served as Chairman of
Benetton Formula from 1988 to 1998, during which time the
team won two Formula One World Drivers' Championships
and one World Constructors' Championship.
Alessandro Benetton is on the board of directors of
Edizione, the Benetton family holding company, and
Autogrill, the world's leading group in catering for
travellers. He is a member of the council of Confindustria
(Confederation of Italian Industry) and is on the advisory
committee of Robert Bosch Internationale Beteiligungen AG
of Zurich, the advisory body of the Swiss holding company
for the international operations of the Bosch Group.
Further statements
Luciano Benetton:
"After a journey spanning 47 years, I am stepping down from
my role in the company I founded with my siblings. Now it
is the turn of my son Alessandro to become chairman. The
challenge, however, is the same as ever. To create, imagine
and be innovative: this is what entrepreneurs have always
done and will continue to do".
"Alessandro has shown - not least in his business career
when he set up 21 Investimenti - that he is not a quitter.
The results testify to this. He is someone who aims for
success in everything he does and that is what he will
achieve."
Alessandro Benetton:
"Our presence in five continents will be one of the
elements that will allow us to overcome this delicate
moment. Since Benetton Group has always seen things "in
colour", allow me to say that it's not all black. There
are expanding markets that we are ready to attack with
determination. And there are opportunities in the more
mature markets that I am confident we can make our
own".
Determination, creativity, the young generations. These are
three linchpins of the Benetton of the future.
I am often asked: will Benetton make it? Benetton is a
strong team and strong teams are a prerequisite for
success. For all of us, especially for our management team
led by our managing directors, achieving this goal must be
and is a personal objective. I expect to see the first
significant steps very soon."
distributed by |