Ferragamo Appoints New Chief Brand Officer

Former Valentino Chief Marketing Officer Yigit Turhan has been appointed Chief Brand Officer of Ferragamo, effective May 18. 

In this role, Yigit will report to James Ferragamo, the company’s Chief Transformation and Sustainability Officer, and take over from Michela Ratti, who has been with the company since March 2024. 

Yigit joins at a time of change for Ferragamo, which is currently operating without a permanent CEO following the departure of Marco Gobbetti in 2025. 

Luxury goods marketing

Ygit has held several marketing leadership positions across a range of luxury fashion houses, such as Gucci, Dolce & Gabbana and ZEGNA.

Most recently, he worked at Valentino, which he joined as Head of Branding in September 2018, before progressing to the Chief Marketing Officer position in 2023. 

Under Yigit, Valentino had begun shifting its strategy towards a direct-to-consumer model as luxury consumer behaviours changed – with a focus on elevating the retail experience and integrating AI and other digital tools. 

This includes its partnership with augmented reality specialist firm Wanna in 2025, where it introduced virtual try-on experiences to customers, allowing them to interact with the company’s products digitally. 

Valentino has also been experimenting with the use of AI in advertising. In December, it released what it describes as a “digital creative project” to promote its DeVain handbag in December, in line with goals to make dynamic digital content in luxury marketing. 

Yigit commented on his departure on LinkedIn, saying: “After 2,737 remarkable days, I have decided to move on from my role at Valentino. Grateful for the immense privilege of contributing to one of the most iconic Houses in the world, and proud of what we built together in all these years. 

“Thank you to every team, every collaborator, every dreamer who made these years so meaningful.”

A rapidly changing leadership structure

As Yigit joins Ferragamo, the company is currently operating without a CEO.

Former CEO Marco Gobbetti took the helm in January 2022, but left the company in March 2025 after failing to increase sales for the company – with shares decreasing 66% across his tenure. 

Many luxury brands are seeing a similar trend in revenue, with softening demand linked to sharp increases in prices, economic pressures and a lack of younger buyers across the industry.

Upon his departure, Chairman Leonardo Ferragamo took on executive powers alongside an advisory committee. 

In April 2026 – more than a year after Marco’s departure – Fabrizo Freda, formerly CEO of Estée Lauder, joined Ferragamo as a special strategic advisor.  

In this role, he advises on strategic decisions, helping strengthen the structure and operations of the Ferragamo Group. He is also supporting the company’s search for a new CEO. 

“We are pleased ‌to ‌begin this collaboration with Fabrizio Freda, whose experience will represent an important contribution to our medium to long-term strategic reflections and to ⁠strengthening the entrepreneurial role of our family,” said Diego di San Giuliano, Chairman of Ferragamo Finanziaria, in a statement.

Fabrizo could also be appointed to the company’s board of directors in the future, says the company.