British leather and stationery retailer Smythson has a new boss. On Monday, the company, which belongs to the Italian Tivoli Group, announced the appointment of Paolo Porta as CEO. The native of Italy took up the post with immediate effect, said Smythson.
According to his new employer, Porta can look back on a “long and highly successful career in the luxury goods sector”. Most recently, he was CEO of the British fashion company Hunter Boot Ltd. Before that he held various management positions at well-known international brands such as Burberry, Stella McCartney, Christian Dior and Jimmy Choo.
The experienced executive, with his extensive knowledge of the global lifestyle industry, is “ideally suited to lead a brand as distinctive and respected as Smythson,” said Stefano Giacomelli, Smythson chairman and CEO of the Tivoli Group, in a statement. Under Porta’s leadership, the label is now “ready to begin a new chapter in its development.” The aim is to “strengthen traditional markets such as Great Britain and the rest of Europe, but in particular to expand our presence in new strategic markets such as the USA and Asia,” says Giacomelli.