Armani announces management restructure to promote non-family

Giorgio Armani, the owner and founder of the Italian fashion house that bears his name, announced on Wednesday he is to promote three non-family members to senior management positions. The reshuffle also includes expanding the board of directors in a move that will professionalise the €1.6 billion company and dilute the input of the family.
 
Gianni Gerbotto, previously general manager of the group, has been put in charge of the company's financial management, John Hooks will occupy a newly created position of deputy chairman and Livio Proll will step into the general manager role. Hooks will join the board of directors, on which Gerbotto already sits, increasing the number of members to seven, three of which are now non-family.
 
Seventy-five year old Armani (pictured) made the announcement after recovering from a case of hepatitis that left him unable to work for a month. He still owns 100% of the company that he founded in 1975 and remains in control of both the creative and business aspects of the group.
 
Armani has three members of the next generation working within the higher regions of the business: his nephew Andrea Camerara was recently promoted to non-executive director in the president's office; Silvana Armani, his niece, is involved in the design process; and another niece, Roberta Armani, heads public relations.

It is as yet unclear who Armani wishes to succeed him at the helm.

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