Italian outdoor footwear brand Garmont International hired Andrea Nalesso as CEO. Nalesso takes over from Pierangelo Bressan, who remains chairman of the board and a Garmont shareholder.
Nalesso is an industry veteran of the outdoor and sports industries. Following several years as sales director in Geox and Dainese, Nalesso was general manager of equipment and footwear brands in the Oberalp group, returning to Dainese before Garmont.
“This is an exciting opportunity. Garmont is a historic brand that knows how to combine innovation and tradition: it is internationally renowned for its quality footwear in the outdoor market,” said Nalesso. “I am proud to lead a company with so much heritage and am pleased to place my experience in the footwear and outdoor industries at Garmont’s service to achieve important goals.”
In line with the development plans of the past few years, Bressan, who had taken over the reins of the company in 2014 to lead its relaunch, remains as president of the Board of Directors and company shareholder.
“Since entering the share capital of Garmont at the beginning of 2021,” commented Nicola Riello, Garmont’s majority shareholder through the Italian Strategy fund, “the company’s potential was very clear to us, as well as the need, also shared by our minority shareholder Pierangelo Bressan, for a gradual succession plan aimed at identifying the best successor for the new phase of business development. With his strong professional background, we have found the ideal candidate in Andrea and are confident that he can take up the baton from Pierangelo and lead the company towards its new goals.”
Riello added, “I would like to thank Pierangelo Bressan for his enlightened guidance from 2014 to today; thanks to his dedication and entrepreneurial expertise, Garmont was relaunched, returning to the top of the outdoor market.”
Bressan said, “The last few years have been very important for Garmont, a historic and prestigious brand that, with commitment and satisfaction, we were able to relaunch. I was in agreement from the outset with the new shareholders on the strategic plan for a new direction in the interest of growth and strengthening also our international presence. The arrival of Andrea Nalesso is part of this broader project. I am certain that his contribution will enable Garmont to realize its development plans, continuing to focus on the quality, reliability and innovation that have always distinguished it on the market.”
Among the initiatives that Garmont has undertaken in recent seasons, and that Nalesso will continue, is developing footwear with “a strong sustainable footprint” and “continue on the path of internationalization, opening new markets and expanding the existing distribution base with an omnichannel focus.”
Photo courtesy Garmont
