Marni, Francesco Risso leaves creative direction after 10 years
The designer from Genoa had been at the helm of the Otb Group brand since 2016
2' min read
2' min read
Francesco Risso is leaving the creative direction of Marni, the Otb group brand, a role he held since 2016. The announcement was made in a note from the group founded by Renzo Rosso: "Under Francesco's creative direction, Marni has set a new pace for the brand through a daring creative evolution that has led to the renewal of the women's collections, the expansion of the men's collections and the development of fashion shows and immersive experiences," it reads. "His instinctive approach to telling emotions has given the brand a profound sensibility and has given rise to numerous artistic collaborations, opening up the maison to new cultural spaces.
"Francesco has embraced the spirit and values of the maison and, together with the team, has taken them to new horizons, building the foundations for a new and exciting chapter for Marni," said Renzo Rosso. "Francesco is a unique designer and a true artist, I wish him all the best for the future.
"I will always be grateful to Renzo for believing in me and for giving me the chance to embark on a journey that became much more than I could have imagined," Risso added. "Marni was a studio, a stage, a dream. It brought colour, instinct, care and created a space where people could feel themselves. It taught me how to build something with feeling and how powerful true collaboration can be. Thanks to the whole Marni team and all the friends who joined along the way, and now to the next amazing journeys!"
Francesco Risso, from Genoa, studied at Polimoda in Florence, the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York and graduated from Central Saint Martins in London. After university, he worked for several fashion designers, including Anna Molinari at Blumarine, Alessandro Dell'Acqua and Malo, before joining Prada in 2006 to focus on womenswear.
The Otb Group, to which the brands Diesel, Jil Sander, Marni, Viktor&Rolf, Maison Margiela and the production companies Staff International and Brave Kids belong, ended the financial year 2024 with revenues of EUR 1.8 billion, down 4.4% (at constant exchange rates) on 2023. Profitability ratios also declined: Ebitda dropped from EUR 348m in 2023 to EUR 276m (16.3% of revenue), Ebit from EUR 140m to EUR 44m. The net financial position (pre Ifrs 16) was positive by EUR 31 million.
