Giorgio Armani thinks about the future: “For now we remain independent, but I don’t rule out anything a priori. For the succession, a pool of people chosen by me”

Giorgio Armani he has always turned his gaze to the future and not only in fashion, but also on his entrepreneurial vision. For this reason, “King George”, who will turn 90 next July, in an interview with Bloomberg, does not rule out changes for his group once he is no longer in charge: “Independence from large groups could still be a value for the Group in the future, but I don’t feel like ruling anything out“.

The designer, who controls almost all of Giorgio Armani Spa, does not close the door even to a possible IPO: “Pricing is something we haven’t discussed yet, but it’s an option which could hopefully be considered in the distant future. What has always characterized the success of my work is the ability to adapt to changing times. At the moment I do not foresee an acquisition by a large luxury conglomerate. But, as I said, I don’t want to exclude anything a priori, because that would be an unentrepreneurial way of acting”.

The discussion then moves on to the theme of succession: “When it comes to succession, I think the best solution would be a pool of trusted people close to me and chosen by me. This would also be the most strategic option, given the breadth of activities in which the group is involved. The foundation will decide and govern the future of the Armani group because the people closest to me are at the helm. I started alone with a small company and transformed it, piece by piece, into a group of international importance, thanks also to the precious contribution of the collaborators I chose along the way. The scenario now is very different than when I started, so I imagine more coordinated functions for those who come after me, which is much more efficient.”