MILAN — Giorgio Armani SpA has a new leader in Japan.
Armani said it has tapped Izumi Sasano as chief executive officer of the wholly owned subsidiary Giorgio Armani Japan Co. Ltd. He started this week in what is a new position at the company.
Sasano, 47, was most recently general manager at Chanel’s Japanese arm, Chanel K.K. Prior to joining Chanel in 2000, he spent 19 years at Sony Group.
Sasano will report directly to John Hooks, Armani’s group commercial and marketing director. Hooks retains his post as president and chairman of Giorgio Armani Japan.
“I am delighted to welcome Izumi Sasano to our executive management team at a time of significant opportunity and expansion for the Armani brand in Japan, one of the company’s most important markets,” designer Giorgio Armani said in a statement. “His wide-ranging and varied experience is perfectly matched to our unique multibrand strategy.”
Last year, Armani inked a lease for a 12-story building in Tokyo’s Ginza district, next door to a Hermès. Slated to open next year, the complex will house a flagship, showrooms and the new corporate offices of Giorgio Armani Japan.
Asia accounted for 13 percent of Giorgio Armani’s 1.85 billion euros ($2.3 billion) in wholesale turnover last year. It is the brand’s third-largest geographic market after Europe and North America.
An Armani spokesman said the appointment is another step in the company’s move to strengthen its management and is on par with the naming of Bridget Ryan as president of Armani’s U.S. operations last spring.