Marco Gobbetti
Former chief executive of Burberry and Salvatore Ferragamo
Marco Gobbetti is an Italian luxury executive who has led some of the best known houses in fashion, including Givenchy, Céline, Burberry and Salvatore Ferragamo. He is regarded as a specialist in repositioning heritage brands, and he left Ferragamo in March 2025 after three years as chief executive.
| Role | Former chief executive of Burberry and Salvatore Ferragamo |
|---|---|
| Ferragamo | Chief executive, January 2022 to March 2025 |
| Burberry | Chief executive, 2017 to 2021 |
| Céline | Chief executive and chairman, 2008 to 2016 |
| Givenchy | Chief executive, 2004 to 2008 |
| Education | American University; Thunderbird School of Global Management |
Who is Marco Gobbetti?
Marco Gobbetti is an Italian executive with four decades of experience in luxury fashion. Over his career he has run Moschino, Givenchy, Céline, Burberry and Salvatore Ferragamo, usually arriving at a moment when the brand needed a new creative and commercial direction. He studied business administration at American University and holds a master's degree in international management from the Thunderbird School of Global Management.
Career
Gobbetti began at Bottega Veneta, where he was commercial director from 1984 to 1989, before joining Valextra as managing director. From 1993 to 2004 he was chief executive of Moschino, and from 2004 to 2008 he led Givenchy. In 2008 he became chief executive and chairman of Céline, a position he held until 2016. During that period the brand moved its headquarters and refocused its product offer on clean, sophisticated lines.
In 2017 he succeeded Christopher Bailey as chief executive of Burberry in London, which he led until 2021. On 1 January 2022 he became chief executive of Salvatore Ferragamo in Florence. There he oversaw a brand renewal that included the appointment of the British designer Maximilian Davis as creative director. Results proved difficult, however, with revenue falling 8.2 percent in 2024 to 1.04 billion euros, and in February 2025 Ferragamo announced that Gobbetti would step down on 6 March 2025 by mutual agreement. Chairman Leonardo Ferragamo took on executive responsibilities in the interim.
Influence on the fashion business
Gobbetti's career is closely associated with the idea of elevating a brand: narrowing its offer, raising price points and aligning product, stores and communication behind a sharper creative vision. His pattern of work includes:
- Pairing strong creative directors with disciplined commercial management
- Moving brands towards higher price segments and fuller price selling
- Reorganising product ranges around a clear aesthetic identity
At Ferragamo the renewal met difficult market conditions, showing how long and costly such repositioning can be.
Why it matters
Few executives have led as many established houses as Gobbetti. His career offers a useful lens on how luxury groups and family owned brands attempt turnarounds, and on the trade offs between short term sales and long term brand equity that every fashion chief executive has to manage.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Marco Gobbetti?
Marco Gobbetti is an Italian luxury executive who has led Moschino, Givenchy, Céline, Burberry and Salvatore Ferragamo. He is known for repositioning heritage brands towards a sharper, more premium identity.
When did Marco Gobbetti leave Ferragamo?
Ferragamo announced in February 2025 that Gobbetti would step down on 6 March 2025 by mutual agreement with the board. He had been chief executive since January 2022.