Marni and creative director Francesco Risso part ways

After nearly 10 years of visionary collaboration, Marni and its creative director Francesco Risso have decided to part ways.

Risso took on the role in 2016, replacing Marni’s founder Consuelo Castiglioni. Through his creative stewardship, Risso injected fresh impetus into the label, overhauling its womenswear collections, expanding menswear, and developing and staging runway shows and immersive experiences. His instinctual approach to emotional storytelling has endowed Marni with a distinctive mood, expressed also via several collaborations with artists, leading Marni to inhabit a new cultural space.

“Francesco embraced the spirit and values of the house and, together with his team, opened up new horizons for Marni, building the foundations for a new and exciting chapter of its story. Francesco is a unique designer and a true artist, and I wish him all the best for the future,” said Renzo Rosso, president of Marni’s owner OTB.

“I will always be grateful to Renzo for believing in me and giving me the chance to set off on a journey which has turned into something much greater than I could have imagined. Marni was a learning experience, a stage, a dream. I brought to it colour, instinct, and sensitivity, creating a space where people felt they were their true selves. Marni taught me how to build something with passion, and how powerful genuine collaboration can be. My thanks go to the entire Marni team and to all the friends who have joined along the way, and now on to my next extraordinary journeys!” said Risso.

Marni is owned by Rosso’s fashion group OTB, whose stake in the label grew to 100% in 2015, from the 61% OTB had bought in 2013. Since last year, Marni has been led by CEO Stefano Rosso, Renzo’s son, who replaced Barbara Calò. OTB generated revenue of €1.8 billion in fiscal 2024, down 4.4% at constant exchange rates.