Design director Angelo Ruggeri departs Sergio Rossi

Angelo Ruggeri, design director at luxury Italian footwear brand Sergio Rossi, has exited his role. His departure comes not long after the footwear label was acquired by European investment house Investindustrial, signalling a period of change for the footwear brand.

Sergio Rossi expressed “sincere gratitude” to Ruggeri for his work over the years, but did not clarify or provide additional details concerning his exit, reports WWD. The brand did not disclose news regarding his potential successor. Ruggeri, who was also head of Sergio Rossi men’s division, first joined the company in 2013, succeeding Franceso Russo. Investindustrial, which took control of the label last December, appointed former Pomellato CEO Andrea Morante as President and recently named Riccardo Sciutto as CEO to guide the brands turnaround.

“I am sure that we can put in place a turnaround of the brand in such a relevant sector as shoes — a segment even more significant for Italy,” said Morante to WWD earlier this year. “There are business opportunities that can be developed by injecting new life into the brand, a new impetus, vision and direction, leveraging a strong brand awareness in regions such as America, Europe and Japan. This could become a case study.”

Sergio Rossi, which manufacturers its shoes in San Mauro Pascoli, in Italy, currently operates 80 stores throughout Europe, the Middle East and Asia in addition to a wholesale distribution in retailers such as Harrods, Barneys New York and Saks Fifth Avenue. Founded by the famed shoemaker Sergio Rossi in the 1950s, Sergio Rossi revenues where estimated to be around 71 million euros last year, according to Barclays.