Francesco Risso Exits Marni After a Decade at the Creative Helm

Marni's creative director, Francesco Risso, has announced his departure after ten years at the helm of the brand's creative department, in which he has been in charge of renewing the women's collections and expanding the men's collections. Risso's departure joins a long list of moves that are shaking up fashion's creative departments.

During his decade at the helm of Marni, the creative has been in charge of developing runway shows and immersive experiences, while closing several artistic collaborations and opening the brand to new cultural spaces.

The president of the OTB group (which includes Marni, but also other brands such as Diesel), Renzo Rosso, considers that the creative has led the company to "new horizons, building the foundations of a new and exciting chapter," according to the Italian media Pambianco. For his part, Risso has also said goodbye to the company with good words: "He has taught me how to build with feeling and how powerful collaboration can be," he says.

Last year, Marni appointed Stefano Rosso, son of OTB's founder and chairman, as chief executive officer.

The change in Marni's creative direction comes on the heels of a change at the top. Last year, OTB Group named Stefano Rosso, son of OTB Group founder and chairman, chief executive officer of the brand. Rosso then succeeded Barbara Calò.

In a recent interview with spanish journal La Vanguardia, Risso stated that he never wanted to do exactly the same as his predecessor, Consuelo Castiglioni. He explained that he provided services to the brand, but that he also wanted to develop his career on his own.

As for the group, earlier this month it announced its intention to accelerate its market in Latin America, with a subsidiary that will centralize the operations of the conglomerate's brands: Diesel, Maison Margiela, Marni, Jil Sander and MM6. The decision was in line with Only the Brave's (OTB) global strategy, focused on strengthening direct control over its brands in high-potential markets.

Last year, the company reduced its global turnover by 5% to 1.7 billion euros. Gross operating profit (ebitda) was 275.8 million euros, down 20% from 347.6 million euros in the previous year.