Balmain appoints Matteo Sgarbossa as CEO

Balmain has recruited its new boss from Givenchy. The Parisian luxury house, owned by Mayhoola, the investment company of Qatar’s royal family, has announced the appointment of Matteo Sgarbossa as CEO. He succeeds Jean-Jacques Guével, who left in March “to pursue other projects.” Sgarbossa will take up his post on May 6.

The 43-year-old Italian manager held the position of international director at Givenchy, in charge of the LVMH sales network, where he had been a member of the executive committee since July 2020. Before joining Givenchy in 2020, he worked for two years at Gucci as vice-president of retail for Europe.

Matteo Sgarbossa has also worked for a number of major fashion brands. Most notably at Mango, from 2011 to 2018, with increasing responsibilities up to the position of Director of International Retail, and previously at Benetton, where he oversaw the Sisley brand and operations in India and China.

In his new role, he will be responsible for “supporting the company’s expansion and further accelerating Balmain’s international success in all luxury regions,” the label said in a statement.

“Matteo’s strong leadership skills and extensive experience in the fashion and luxury industry at senior levels make him the ideal person to lead Balmain,” said Balmain President and Mayhoola CEO Rachid Mohamed Rachid.

Matteo Sgarbossa will work closely with Olivier Rousteing, who has overseen the creative direction of the house since 2011. “I am convinced that his energy and knowledge of the global market will be decisive in this new phase for Balmain and that his partnership with Olivier Rousteing will lead to a very fruitful chapter in the history of the house,” adds Rachid Mohamed Rachid.

In March, Balmain saw the departure not only of its CEO Jean-Jacques Guevel, after four years at the helm of the house, but also of its marketing director Txampi Diz, who now holds the same role at Casablanca.