Gianni Versace SpA said Monday Robert Singer has joined its board and it has tapped another Gucci alum, Francesco Buccola, as chief financial officer.
With the appointments, Versace’s board will increase to eight members from seven.
“I am especially satisfied to have succeeded in getting Singer and Buccola involved in the Versace project,” said Versace chief executive officer Gian Giacomo Ferraris, who also worked at Gucci in the past. “Singer and Buccola bring added value of extraordinary impact to Versace.”
Until May 2009, Singer was ceo of food group Barilla Holding. Before that, he was the long-serving chief financial officer of Gucci Group during the Domenico De Sole and Tom Ford era. He also served just over a year as the chief operating officer of Abercrombie & Fitch.
Buccola was cfo of the Gucci division of Gucci Group between 2000 and 2008. He succeeds the departing Massimo Sala.
Versace also said it is proceeding with its restructuring efforts and its business partners support the strategy going forward. The company said it is in talks with unions about the next steps it needs to take to restore Versace’s success and competitive edge. In October, Versace said it would cut about 350 jobs, or 25 percent of its workforce.