Raffaello NAPOLEONE

Raffaello Napoleone was born in Rome in 1954; he has three daughters. He has a degree in law, and has been living in Florence since 1981.

Long a sailing enthusiast, he began his career as a broker and then went on as an entrepreneur building and selling sailing yachts.

From 1984 to 1986 he worked with the French pharmaceutical company, Les Laboratoires Servier; from 1986 to 1989 he was director of human resources at Salvatore Ferragamo.

He has been general manager of Pitti Immagine s.r.l. since 1989, and in 1995 became the CEO; Pitti Immagine s.r.l. organizes international fashion trade fairs dealing with over 2,000 exhibitions and 120,000 visitors annually – 25% of whom are from abroad; the company’s turnover in fiscal year 2010 was € 30.5 million.

The fairs which are for members of the trade feature clothing and accessories for women/men/children; yarns for the knitting industry; home accessories; design; crafts; fragrances; and wines and foods. Some of the fairs are open to the general public at selected times.

Through the Fondazione Pitti Discovery, the company conceives, curates and stages important exhibitions (open to the public) on fashion culture and communication, and produces publications and events on costume and contemporary arts. Often, these exhibitions and related programs are taken abroad to promote Italian fashions around the world.

Raffaello Napoleone sits on the board of the directors of the Ente Moda Italia s.r.l., he is chairman of the board of directors of Fiera Digitale, he is on the advisory board and a permanent invited member of the board of directors of Confindustria Florence, member of the board of directors of the Ente Cassa di Risparmio di Firenze, member of the board of directors of Polimoda, member of the board of directors of Yoox s.p.a, of the advisory board of Sistema Moda Italia, and of the steering committee of the Fondazione Montedomini.