Sandro Veronesi
Founder, president and chief executive of Oniverse (Calzedonia Group)
Sandro Veronesi is the Italian entrepreneur who founded Calzedonia in 1987 and built it into a group of hosiery, lingerie and fashion brands including Intimissimi, Tezenis and Falconeri. The group, now presented as Oniverse, operates in 57 countries and he serves as its president and chief executive.
| Role | Founder, president and CEO |
|---|---|
| Organisation | Oniverse (Calzedonia S.p.A.) |
| Born | 1959, Ala, Italy |
| Founded | Calzedonia, 1987 |
| Key brands | Calzedonia, Intimissimi, Tezenis, Falconeri |
| Presence | 57 countries |
Who is Sandro Veronesi?
Sandro Veronesi, born in 1959 in Ala in Trentino, is the founder of Calzedonia and the head of the group that now presents itself as Oniverse. He is one of Italy's most successful retail entrepreneurs, known for building specialised, accessibly priced brands around a tightly managed network of stores. He is not to be confused with the Italian novelist of the same name.
Career
Veronesi worked at the hosiery company Golden Lady before founding Calzedonia in 1987, at the age of 27, to sell tights and socks through dedicated shops. The concept was extended into new categories through a series of brands:
- Calzedonia (1987): legwear and beachwear
- Intimissimi (1996): lingerie and underwear
- Tezenis (2003): underwear and casual wear for a younger audience
- Falconeri (2009, majority stake): cashmere and knitwear
- Signorvino (2013): wine shops and restaurants
The group later added fashion labels such as Atelier Emé and Antonio Marras, wine estates and yachting brands including Pardo Yachts, Grand Soleil Yachts and VanDutch. According to the company, it operates in 57 countries with flagship stores in cities such as Milan, Paris, London, New York and Tokyo. Veronesi also founded the San Zeno foundation in 1999 to support education and training.
Influence on the fashion business
Veronesi's model combines narrow, specialised product ranges with a large international network of brand stores and a strong focus on value for money. Calzedonia and Intimissimi showed that a single category such as legwear or lingerie could support an international retail brand. The approach has made the group a reference for European specialist retail and a competitor to larger fast fashion chains in its categories.
The shift towards the umbrella name Oniverse reflects a group that now spans fashion, food and wine, and yachting, while the fashion brands remain its core.
Why it matters
Veronesi is an example of an Italian founder who built scale without listing on the stock market, keeping control of the group while expanding internationally. His career shows how category specialisation, store-led brand building and disciplined supply chains can create durable retail businesses in a market dominated by global fashion groups.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Sandro Veronesi?
Sandro Veronesi is the Italian entrepreneur who founded Calzedonia in 1987. He is president and chief executive of the group, now known as Oniverse, which also owns Intimissimi, Tezenis and Falconeri.
Which brands belong to the Calzedonia Group?
The group's fashion brands include Calzedonia, Intimissimi, Tezenis, Falconeri, Atelier Emé and Antonio Marras. It also owns food and wine businesses such as Signorvino and yachting brands.