Costanzo Ruocco Is Gianvito Rossi’s New CEO
Gianvito Rossi SRL has named Costanzo Ruocco its new chief executive officer with immediate effect.
Ruocco was previously chief operating officer at the Italian footwear firm, where he has worked for the past five years, playing “a pivotal role in its operations and strategic development,” according to a statement shared first with WWD and FN.
Ruocco takes over the CEO role from designer Gianvito Rossi, who founded his brand in 2006 after spending years studying shoemaking under his footwear-guru father Sergio Rossi.
Gianvito Rossi remains creative director of the house, and a member of its board of directors, taking on the role of chairman as part of the management transition.
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Compagnie Financière Richemont acquired a controlling stake in the label in July 2023, considering the high-end footwear market an important frontier of development in luxury.
Ruocco, who boasts more than 20 years of experience in the fashion industry, now reports to Philippe Fortunato, CEO of Richemont’s fashion and accessories maisons.
Fortunato said Ruocco’s “deep expertise, profound understanding of the maison, and the strong relationships he has built with Gianvito and our teams will be instrumental in strengthening its positioning as a leading luxury female footwear brand worldwide.”
For his part, Gianvito Rossi said Ruocco’s “passion and dedication to the maison make him the ideal leader to drive it toward further achievements.”
A graduate of the London School of Economics and Political Science, Ruocco started his career at Merrill Lynch and Citi, transitioning from finance to fashion when he joined Gianfranco Ferré as licensing and co-branding manager in 2003, according to his LinkedIn profile.
He went on to spend six years at Ralph Lauren and Roger Vivier in a variety of senior roles before joining Gianvito Rossi in 2019.
Ruocco said he was “deeply honored and excited to take on the CEO role. I look forward to enhancing the recognition of our maison and expanding its global business while upholding its dedication to excellence and savoir-faire.”
Rossi — who is best known for his heels and the signature muted shade of powder pink of their interior soles — stepped into the bag category in 2023.
Boots took center stage for Rossi’s fall 2025 collection, with over-the-knee styles in suede infused with golden elements, while there also were chunky platform sandals with a ‘70s edge. The designer also doubled down on his iconic pump, which was shown in over 30 shades.
