Numerous media reported last week that Andrea Guerra is to take over the executive chair of the Italian fashion house Prada SpA. The decision has been official since Tuesday. The company announced that the 57-year-old would be nominated as the new CEO at the board meeting on January 26, 2023.
The former CEO of eyewear manufacturer Luxottica, who headed the hotels division of French luxury goods group LVMH until April this year, will succeed Miuccia Prada and Patrizio Bertelli, who previously served as co-CEOs at Prada.
Bertelli will be nominated for the post of Chairman of Prada SpA at the forthcoming shareholders’ meeting, the fashion house announced. The current Chairman, Paolo Zannoni, will then be elected Executive Deputy Chairman of Prada SpA and Chairman of the holding company, Prada Holding SpA.
According to the company, Miuccia Prada will remain creative director of the two brands Prada and Miu Miu. The 73-year-old designs the collections of the main line Prada together with the Belgian designer Raf Simons, who has been the co-creative director since spring 2020.
Guerra is said to facilitate the transition to designated CEO Lorenzo Bertelli
However, Guerra is said to be only a temporary solution at the helm of the fashion house. Lorenzo Bertelli, the son of Miuccia Prada and Patrizio Bertelli, has been preparing for the management post for some time. As head of marketing, the 34-year-old, who has made a name for himself primarily as a racing driver, is a member of the Prada board of directors. He is set to rise to CEO in a few years.
“We have decided to take this fundamental step, while remaining fully committed to the company, in order to contribute more to the development of the Prada Group and to facilitate the transition to Lorenzo Bertelli, the future CEO,” explained Miuccia Prada and Patrizio Bertelli in a joint statement. “We thank Andrea Guerra for agreeing to take on this job to ensure continued and sustainable growth.”
Guerra has already demonstrated that he has the entrepreneurial skills to uphold the culture of company founders while addressing the needs of a constantly evolving, international company, Prada and Bertelli emphasized.