CEO Thierry Andretta out at Mulberry

July 9, 2024

The new leader is a 20-year veteran of the fashion industry, having led labels around the world. Image credit: Mulberry Hailing from Danish ready-to-wear clothing label Ganni, Italian executive Andrea Baldo will take over as CEO on Sept. 1, 2024. Image credit: Mulberry

By Emily Iris Degn for Luxury Daily News Service

British fashion group Mulberry is surprising the luxury community with its latest corporate shakeup.

Announced today, Thierry Andretta is leaving the company effective immediately after just shy of a decade spent at its helm. Italian executive Andrea Baldo, who hails from Danish ready-to-wear clothing label Ganni, will take over as Mulberry's chief executive on Sept. 1, 2024.

“I am pleased to be able to announce the appointment of Andrea Baldo,” said Chris Roberts, chairman at Mulberry, in a statement.

“Following our search process, it was clear that Andrea’s international fashion brand expertise, creativity and strategic thinking meant he was absolutely the right person for this role,” Mr. Roberts said. “I'd also like to thank Thierry for his contribution to the business.”

New guard
Mr. Baldo, a 20-year veteran of the fashion industry, is stepping in, and will soon guide the luxury leather goods empire through a sales recovery effort.

Since 2018, Mulberry's new recruit has driven the growth strategy at Ganni, focusing on its retail network, brand identity, customer engagement and product innovation efforts as CEO and executive director.

His efforts have earned the relatively smaller business outsized traction on a global scale, particularly for its embrace of sustainable design, having accelerated its use of alternate materials such as Celium and fungi leather (see story).

With experience in product innovation under his belt thanks to his time at Ganni, Mr. Baldo could offer Mulberry just the background it needs for this sustainability-focused moment in luxury fashion. Image credit: Ganni Thanks to his time at Ganni, Mr. Baldo could offer Mulberry just the background it needs for this sustainability-focused moment in luxury fashion. Image credit: Ganni

Before venturing to the Scandinavian apparel player, Mr. Baldo helped redefine business priorities to improve sales and profits in roles at Italian fashion brands Coccinelle and Marni Group from 2016 to 2018 and from 2013 to 2016, respectively. For ten years, he also led Italian luxury conglomerate OTB Group's Diesel, eventually becoming its U.S. chief operating officer.

Going forward, the Mulberry Group appointee is looking to establish Mulberry as a representative of sustainable fashion and ecofriendly luxury, an approach that began with Mr. Andretta, once tasked with carving out the company’s green agenda and achieving its net-zero, regenerative and circular goals.

“I am thrilled to join Mulberry at such a pivotal moment and to build upon the strong sustainability credentials of this iconic luxury brand,” said Mr. Baldo, in a statement.

“I look forward to leading the business and its talented team into the next chapter.”

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