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Geox names new CEO

Matteo Mascazzini new Geox CEO

Geox SpA has appointed Matteo Mascazzini as its new chief executive officer role at Geox, effective 1 February 2018.

He will succeed Gregorio Borgo, who is leaving the Italian footwear company after only one year.

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Mascazzini, formerly Gucci America’s chief operating officer, has 20 years of fashion industry experience. Over the last ten years, he has worked internationally for Italian luxury brand Gucci, working as associate president of Gucci Europe, Middle East and India, and president and CEO of Gucci Japan, among others.

From 2003 to 2007, Mascazzini was chief operating officer and chief financial officer at Giorgio Armani in America and Japan. Prior to that, he was group controller for the Gianni Versace group.

According to Geox president, Mario Moretti Polegato, the new CEO’s expertise will “boost the growth of the group and align marketing, communication, brand and product strategy with commercial distribution to allow Geox to reach important results in terms of growth and profitability in the near future.”

The news comes at Geox reported its year-end results, which saw sales fall 1.8% to 884.3 million euros, despite an uptick from China and a redesign of namesake stores last year.

Designed for sustainable interior design, the new stores use natural materials such as wood, terracotta tiles and carpets crafted from up-cycled fishnets, which runs with the breathability essence of Geox’s perforated shoe designs.

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At the end of December 2017, Geox stores stood at 1,095 globally, with 439 being directly operated.

In 2017, 70 new stores were opened and 136 were closed as part of the group’s new retail strategy to overhaul store layouts.