Ermenegildo Zegna (Italian pronunciation: [ermeneˈdʒildо dˈdzeɲɲa]; born 30 September 1955), often simply known and referred to as Gildo Zegna, is an Italian entrepreneur and manager. He is Chairman and CEO of Ermenegildo Zegna Group.
Gildo is a grandson of Ermenegildo Zegna, who founded the family business in 1910. Gildo Zegna was born in Turin in 1955.[1] His father Angelo, who had run the business since the mid-1960s with his brother Aldo, was the Company's honorary chairman until his death in 2021.[1][2][3]
Gildo Zegna graduated in economics from the University of London in 1978. In 1981, he attended a managerial program at the Harvard Business School.[4]
Gildo Zegna entered the family business in 1982, managing the distribution of Zegna products in the U.S. and Canada as President of Ermenegildo Zegna Corporation.[4]
From 1986 to 1989 he served as CEO of Italco SA, supervising the distribution of Zegna products in Spain.[4][5]
Gildo Zegna has been a board member of Ermenegildo Zegna Group since 1989, becoming chief executive officer in 1997.[6] Under his guidance, alongside his cousin Paolo Zegna, the label has undertaken a strategy of full verticalization and brand extension.[1][7] The Zegna Group acquired the high-end textile manufacturer Bonotto in 2016;[8] the historic Cappellificio Cervo hat-maker and the American label Thom Browne in 2018;[9][10] the Italian high-quality jersey fabrics manufacturer Dondi in 2019;[11] the fabric makers Tessitura Ubertino and Tessitura Biagioli Modesto in 2021.[12][13]
In addition to running the Zegna Group, Gildo Zegna is also Chairman of the board of directors of Thom Browne Inc. and a board member of Tom Ford International. He is also Chairman of Filati Biagioli Modesto.[13] He served as a board member of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV from 2014 to 2018. Gildo Zegna is a member of the Council for the United States and Italy and of the Camera Nazionale della Moda italiana.[14]
Gildo Zegna was awarded the title Knight of Labour (Cavaliere del lavoro) in 2011 by Italian president Giorgio Napolitano.[citation needed]
In 2016, he received the Leonardo Prize from Italian President Sergio Mattarella, a prestigious award given to an Italian personality who has acted in a significant way to promote the image of Italy in the world.[15]
He is married and has two sons.[5]