Diane von Furstenberg isn't just an iconic designer and the mastermind behind the famous wrap dress, she's a total #girlboss and one of the wisest women in fashion today. So, when it came time to consider stepping down from her company, the 68-year-old businesswoman obviously went about it her own way. She first announced that she was looking for a CEO to lead her namesake brand two years ago, and this week, DVF finally named her successor.
WWD reports that von Furstenberg has tapped former Tory Burch exec Paolo Riva as the CEO of Diane von Furstenberg Studio, a brand new position within the company. Von Furstenberg, who's been a fashion-scene fixture since the '70s, explained that she needed someone to take over the company who'd be able to guide it into the future. “This is a most important decision for me," she told WWD. "This is an heir, somebody to take it on for the next decades." After meeting with candidates in the U.S. and Europe, she shifted her search for someone who can carry the brand in the long-term. “Barry [Diller, her husband] said to me, ‘You should stop looking for those who are already CEOs, and you should look for the next superstar.’ That was a magic word.”
Given Riva's track record — he's logged time at Valentino and Ferragamo, as well as Tory Burch — we have no doubts he can handle the high-profile gig. "He completely seduced me in the way he sees me, the way he sees the brand, the way he sees the potential, and the way he sees the world in disruption," Diane added. And, whether it's in flattering dresses, feminism, or championing emerging designers with the CFDA, DVF has made her career by shaking up the status quo through fashion. It's only fitting that her heir be someone ready to do the same. (WWD)
AdvertisementADVERTISEMENT