Vittorio Radice
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Vittorio Radice | |
|---|---|
| Born | 2 April 1957 Como, Italy |
| Education | University of Milan |
| Occupation | Businessman |
| Years active | 1990–present |
| Known for | Overhaul of Selfridges and la Rinascente department stores |
| Spouse |
Gemma Vidal (m. 1986) |
| Children | 2 |
Vittorio Radice (born 2 April 1957, in Como) is an Italian businessman, investor, retail veteran, chairman of Switzerland's Globus and vice-chairman of Italy's la Rinascente S.p.A.. Credited with revamping London department store Selfridges, 150-year-old Italian department store la Rinascente, Berlin's Kaufhaus des Westens and Switzerland's Globus.
The son of a furniture retailer, Vittorio surprised himself and his family by studying agriculture at Milan University before doing his military service. After leaving the army he joined Associated Merchandising Corporation, then one of the largest global buying organisations for Department Stores. By the age of thirty he was responsible for developing ranges and sourcing furniture and home furnishings in more than twenty countries.
Early business career and Habitat UK
In 1990, he joined Habitat International as buying director, when it was part of the Storehouse group, to set up a central purchasing operation. He was appointed managing director of Habitat UK in 1992, shortly before the company was sold to IKEA, and set about the transformation of an ailing business with losses of £7 million into a company twice the size and profits of over £12 million.
Selfridges
He continued to build on success at Habitat until he was headhunted to join Selfridges as managing director in 1996. In this role he has transformed what was a "comfy old cardigan" of a store into the "big sexy giant" that it now is.
In 1998 Vittorio led the successful de-merger of Selfridges from the Sears conglomerate. On the back of continuous increase in sales and profit, the Selfridges market value doubled in 4 years. The company was taken private again in July 2003.