He has already worked for Valentino twice in the past.
Former Gucci executive Jacopo Venturini will become Maison Valentino’s new executive officer effective June 1, the Roman fashion house announced on Tuesday.
He succeeds Stefano Sassi, who has been at the helm of the Maison since 2006 – two years before the retirement of founding designer Valentino Garavani.
“It has been an incredible personal and professional experience working at Valentino for the past 15 years. The decisions that I’ve taken in full agreement with the board and the shareholders are aimed to the growing ambitions of the brand and I’m optimistic for the future of Valentino once the emergency situation will cease. I wish the very best to my colleagues,” Sassi said in a statement.
Despite creative director Pierpaolo Piccoli’s overall hit with fashion critics, the Maison has yet to translate his praise-worthy collections into dollar signs. This will be a challenge Venturini is expected to tackle when he comes on board, having left Gucci last October.
He has already worked for Valentino twice in the past – first as a brand manager for womenswear and menswear from 2000 to 2004 and later as a ready-to-wear collection director in 2008, after a three year stint at Prada in between.
“I’m very happy to return for the third time to Valentino, the Italian Maison which represents my first love affair in fashion. Valentino means heritage and future to me, it will be a pleasure working arm in arm with Pierpaolo,” said Venturini.
“I really would like to thank Stefano Sassi for the remarkable objectives achieved in the last decade. Stefano’s role has been pivotal in turning Valentino into the contemporary brand of today,” commented Valentino Chairman Rachid Mohamed Rachid.
“I do believe that Jacopo, with his sharp vision and unique capability in sensing market changes, will inject in Valentino new vibrant energies. We are happy to have him lead the new brand course,” Rachid added.