The Italian producer of high-end sportswear has appointed Alberto Lavia as chief executive, effective July 15. For the last two years, he has held the same position at Façonnable, the French fashion group founded by the late Horst Dassler. The manager has considerable experience in the fashion industry having been managing director of Polo Ralph Lauren Europe; chairman of Kenzo, a unit of the LVMH Group; and managing director of Calvin Klein Europe.
The position did not previously exist at Moncler and is part of the group’s efforts to reinforce its management team in a period of strong expansion, and in view of an initial public offering that could be held as soon as the first half of 2011.
Moncler finished 2009 with sales of €372 million, up by 23 percent from the previous year. The company is owned at 48 percent by a private equity company, Carlyle, which has already chosen two investment banks, Morgan Stanley and Merrill Lynch, as the advisers for the listing on the Milan stock exchange.
Earlier this year, Carlyle said that it was interested in buying another brand with annual sales of up to €100 million to add to the Moncler group before its flotation. The group currently owns the brands Moncler, Henry Cotton’s, Marina Yachting and Coast, Weber & Ahaus (CWA). It also holds a license for Cerruti 1881.
