Runway to Business, Ep. 6: Silvia Onofri named new CEO of Miu Miu
Another Italian female executive rises to the top as Prada Group appoints Onofri, with experience at Bulgari and Napapijri, to lead Miu Miu
Miu Miu Appoints Silvia Onofri as CEO, Strengthening Italian Female Leadership in Fashion
Miu Miu has appointed Silvia Onofri as its new Chief Executive Officer, continuing the trend of Italian women rising to the top in the fashion industry. Effective February 26, Onofri will take over from Benedetta Petruzzo, who stepped down after leading the brand to significant growth.
This move by Prada Group underscores the increasing prominence of Italian female executives in the luxury fashion world. Onofri brings decades of experience, having held key roles at Bulgari, Bally, and most recently, VF Corporation’s Napapijri.
Miu Miu’s Strong Financial Growth and Rising Industry Influence
Onofri’s challenge will be to sustain the brand’s momentum, which has recently led Miu Miu to top the Lyst Index as the hottest name in fashion. Financially, the brand has experienced remarkable growth, largely due to a successful strategy spearheaded by Petruzzo’s team. The brand’s expansion has been fuelled by a cohesive approach to omnichannel retail, effective market strategies, a well-balanced product mix, strong CRM, and communication efforts.
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Miu Miu is now poised to reach €1 billion in revenue by the end of fiscal year 2024, following a third-quarter performance with revenue up 105% and a nine-month increase of 97%.
Silvia Onofri’s Career: From Bulgari to Miu Miu
So, who is Silvia Onofri? Before we explore how Onofri will shape Miu Miu’s future, let’s take a closer look at her 25-year career in fashion. Onofri holds a master’s degree in economics from Italy, with postgraduate studies in London.
She began her career at Bulgari in 2000 and then took on increasingly senior roles at Swiss maison Bally starting in 2008. Over her 15 years at Bally, she rose through the ranks to become CEO for the EMEA region, followed by roles as Executive Vice President of Global Wholesale and Licenses and Chief Commercial Officer of Global Wholesale. In 2023, she joined VF Corporation as President of Napapijri, where she led the brand’s transformation and repositioning.
A Growing Roster of Italian Women Leaders in Fashion
In her new role, Silvia Onofri joins a distinguished list of Italian women who are leading major fashion and luxury brands. Among them is her predecessor, Benedetta Petruzzo, who became the Managing Director at Christian Dior Couture last October after four years at Miu Miu. Other notable names include Francesca Bellettini, a powerful presence in fashion, who was promoted to Deputy CEO for Brand Development at Kering in 2023 after serving as President and CEO of Saint Laurent for a decade.
The list also features Raffaella Cornaggia, CEO of Kering Beauté; Francesca di Carrobio, CEO of Hermès Italy; Laura Burdese, Vice CEO of Bulgari; Simona Cattaneo, President of Chanel’s Fragrance & Beauty Division; Sabina Belli, CEO of Pomellato; Barbara Calò, the first-ever CEO of Antonio Marras; and Maria Cristina Lomanto, Executive Vice President and Brand General Manager of Gucci.
Clementina Bianchi
Editor