Marco Bizzarri, former Gucci CEO, makes investment in Elisabetta Franchi

Marco Bizzarri, who formerly led Gucci as CEO, is beginning a new venture in his career by investing in the Elisabetta Franchi brand. Bizzarri, who spent eighteen years with Kering, including a term as Gucci's CEO from 2015 to 2023, is now shifting his concentration towards 'investments in valuable companies and human resources'. His initial move involves investing in the Elisabetta Franchi brand. Bizzarri states to be privileged in working with passionate individuals to build beneficial partnerships.

Marco Bizzarri - DR

Through Nessifashion, a newly established holding company where Bizzarri acts as the sole director, and owned by his company Nessi SRL, Bizzarri took a minority share in the Italian ready-to-wear brand. The investment amount was not disclosed by Bizzarri, but according to a press release, 'it's a stake that could grow to 23%'. Meanwhile, Bizzarri takes the position of chairman at Elisabetta Franchi.

Founded by entrepreneurial designer Elisabetta Franchi, the company Betty Blue began in 1998 in Bologna. The company offers luxurious, glamorous women's ready-to-wear clothes and has expanded retail and international representation over the last decade, currently having 85 stand-alone stores in 78 countries, and also distributed through a network of multi-brand boutiques.

Mainly producing within Italy and employing 300 people, the company has gained recognition in the premium segment over the years, widening its range of accessories, swimwear, a girls' line, and recently partnering with Pronovias to launch a bridal line. As of the beginning of this year, the label was managed by Gabriele Maggio. Despite plans to go public in 2019, the pandemic shelved these plans.

In the words of Bizzarri, Elisabetta Franchi is a successful, self-made entrepreneur with a clear vision of her company's future evolution. After surpassing €100 million in revenues in 2016, the highly lucrative label projects sales of €170 million for 2023, half of which is expected to be generated from abroad. The company also expects to have an operating profit margin (Ebit) of 31.8%. As per Bizzarri, the company carries 'high potential for expansion, both in Europe and internationally'.

In 2021, Marco Bizzarri became a shareholder of Orienta Capital Partners, an Italian financial firm specializing in investing in SMEs and SMIs with 'high growth potential'. His current focus is to invest 'in Italian and international businesses active in the fashion and luxury sectors'.

Bizzarri began his professional journey as a consultant with Accenture before entering the fashion industry. After spending a decade leading Mandarina Duck and then Marithé + François Girbaud, he joined Kering in 2005. At Kering, he was in charge of houses such as Stella McCartney, Bottega Veneta from 2009, and finally Gucci in 2015. However, following a significant slowdown in Gucci's performance in recent years and the resignation of creative director Alessandro Michele in November 2022, Bizzarri himself was dismissed from his position in July 2023.