MILAN – Trade entrepreneur and investor Francesco Trapani has died, aged 68.
“It’s with profound disappointment that Bulgari mourn the passing of Francesco Trapani, a visionary chief and a key determine within the trendy historical past of our maison,” acknowledged the Bulgari home on Thursday.
He was the son of Lia Bulgari and the nephew of Gianni, Paolo, and Nicola Bulgari. Accordingly, continued the assertion, he “inherited a profound ardour for excellence, creativity, and innovation.
He was appointed chief government officer of the Rome-based jeweler in 1984, helming it for 3 a long time, “remodeling Bulgari into one of many world’s most iconic luxurious jewelry manufacturers and establishing it as a worldwide chief. With a daring, forward-looking imaginative and prescient, Francesco redefined the boundaries of the luxurious world, increasing Bulgari’s worldwide presence and elevating it into an emblem of Italian class and up to date refinement. His strategic perception and relentless drive helped form not solely the way forward for our maison but additionally left a long-lasting mark on your complete luxurious business.”
Bulgari concluded the assertion by expressing deep gratitude “for his extraordinary contributions, his unwavering dedication, and the lasting legacy he leaves behind. His spirit, ambition, and fervour for magnificence will proceed to encourage us all. Our ideas are together with his household, mates, and all who had the privilege of working alongside him.”
In 2014 Trapani relinquished his operational function as president of LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton’s watches and jewellery division, turning into an adviser to chairman Bernard Arnault on jewellery. He had joined LVMH in 2011 after the French group acquired Bulgari for roughly $5.2 billion.
Trapani’s résumé additionally features a stint as chairman of personal fairness agency Clessidra SGR, the place he helped with the acquisition of the Roberto Cavalli model in 2015, and as an investor in two Italian meals firms; partering with Bluebell and turning into the primary shareholder and chairman of VAM Investments, which along with Fondo Italiano d’Investimento, established Florence SpA.
Earlier than the sale to LVMH, Trapani sat on the board of Tiffany & Co. as a part of a cope with one other activist funding agency, Jana Companions LLC.