Poltrona Frau is changing CEO: the design company, controlled by US-based Haworth Lifestyle, has appointed former Gucci executive Giovanni Baldi (in photo) as CEO from September 1. He succeeds Nicola Coropulis (who spent 18 years with the company, including 10 as CEO), though Coropulis will continue to work with both Poltrona Frau and the US group. “The current mandate”, reads the statement issued by the Tolentino-based company (Macerata), “will focus on strengthening the brand’s international positioning, developing key markets and evolving the experience offered to customers and partners”.
Poltrona Frau’s new CEO
Giovanni Baldi worked at Gucci for more than 20 years and more recently served as EMEA president at Dolce&Gabbana, building over 25 years of experience in luxury. “It’s a great privilege to take the helm of Poltrona Frau, a brand that represents Italian design culture, creativity and craftsmanship excellence around the world”, Baldi commented. During the initial transition phase, he’ll be supported by Coropulis, who has stepped down but will continue to work with the design company as a strategic advisor.
He’ll hold the same role for furniture brand Ceccotti, which belongs to the same US parent group, Haworth Lifestyle. Among the latest milestones achieved under Coropulis’s leadership was the introduction of the digital product passport, an NFC-based system that makes it possible to trace products’ origin, authenticity and life cycle.
The comment
“The strength Poltrona Frau shows internationally today is part of Nicola Coropulis’s legacy”, said Dario Rinero, CEO of Haworth Lifestyle. “Baldi’s experience leading international organizations, and his ability to combine strategic vision with execution, make him the ideal person to guide the brand through its next phase of growth and transformation”.
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