How will Giorgio Armani’s New CEO Carry On Its Legacy

A month after Giorgio Armani’s death on 4 September 2025, the famous fashion House named Giuseppe Marocci as its new Chief Executive Officer.

Giuseppe moves into the position from an over-20-year career at Armani, where he has most recently held the position of Deputy Managing Director and Global Chief Commercial Officer alongside Giorgio in Milan.

In a statement on 16 October, the company said that Marocci was chosen because of his “international experience of over 35 years in the fashion and luxury sector, 23 of which have been with the Armani Group”.

It added that the appointment “is an important confirmation of the Armani family to continue the project that Giorgio Armani has built and sustained for 50 years”.

Filling the suit of Giorgio Armani 

The House’s Chief Financial Officer, Danielle Ballestrassi, who joined the company in 2007 after time at Gianni Versace, had been rumoured to fill the role of Chief Exec.

However, Giuseppe will be the one tasked with carrying on its legacy and challenged with navigating the potentially complex transition.

The late fashion designer named French luxury conglomerate LVMH, beauty firm L'Oréal and eyewear manufacturer EssilorLuxottica as his three preferred companies for a stake in his business.

As per his wishes, the new CEO will be navigating the sale of an initial 15% stake within the next 18 months to one of these suitors.

A new structure for Armani’s new era

The Giorgio Armani Foundation, set up in 2016 by the founder, is a key pillar in the Italian designer’s succession plan.

It was established by Giorgio to safeguard the future of the Armani Group, ensuring the company’s long-term governance, values and independence.

His will outlines that the Foundation holds 30% of the company voting rights and Pantaleo Dell’Orca, Giorgio’s business and life partner, holds 40%.

The other 30% is up for grabs for the potential stakeholders.

Pantaleo had been on the Foundation’s executive board since its founding, but Reuters announced that as of 14 October he is now Chairman.

The Foundation’s board consists of four other members, including Irving Bellotti, Rothschild banker and Andrea Camerana, Giorgio Armani’s nephew - who has been appointed as Vice Chairman.

Pantaleo, who the new Chief will report to, said in a statement: “Giuseppe is the most natural choice to ensure continuity with the path outlined by the founder.”

Continuing Armani’s legacy

Outside of the business world, the Italian founder used his influence for charitable benefit.

A few weeks after his death, on 22 September, Armani announced the initiative ‘Casa Mariù’, an international project in support of children’s rights to education through targeted actions including contributions towards teachers’ salaries and supplying educational equipment.

The company says that it “remains his legacy, promoting the values in which he always believed and reaffirming his attention and sensitivity to the needs of the most vulnerable”.

It involves eight children’s facilities located in six countries across Africa, South America and South-East Asia.

In a statement from Giorgio during the creation of the initiative he said: “A better future begins with a childhood that, while perhaps not as happy as every child deserves, is at least serene and formative, with family and school at its heart.

“In such an important year for me, I feel a particularly strong need to give back some of the good I have received.”

Giuseppe will be tasked with continuing the competitive success of the fashion House, alongside keeping the morals and perspectives of Giorgio’s visionary initiatives alive for years to come.