MILAN – Flos B&B Italia Group’s Daniel Lalonde, who set out to shape the firm as the “LVMH of Home” and led the company through a new era of expansion and rebranding, is no longer at the helm of the group.
Flos B&B Italia Group Design Holding said in a statement Thursday that former Flos CEO Piero Gandini was appointed its executive chairman “effective immediately.”
Lalonde will “remain a member of the board of directors of the group to support the future development of the business,” but the release did not provide additional details and did not name a new CEO.
“The group and its shareholders sincerely thank Mr. Lalonde for his vision and leadership over the past years and his continued commitment and dedication to the group,” read the statement.
Lalonde was key in developing a unique strategy that brought the group’s vanguard brands B&B Italia, Flos, Louis Poulsen, Maxalto, Arclinea and Azucena under one roof. This culminated in the opening of a 25,000-square-foot space on New York City’s 135 Madison Avenue last year. At the time, he told WWD the group was on track to meet its near term goal of 1 billion euros in sales.
The group’s New York flagship on Madison Avenue saw its new retail concept come to life.
Sean Davidson for Design Holding
In 2021, the Italian conglomerate inked a joint venture with Fendi to form Fashion Furniture Design, or FF Design, to develop the Fendi Casa business. The line was previously produced and distributed by licensee Luxury Living, operating through Club House Italia.
Gandini left Flos as its long time CEO and chairman in 2019 and is the son of the lighting firm’s first manager Sergio Gandini, who started at the helm in its early heyday in 1963 and later bought it in 1964. Flos was founded in Merano, Italy, in 1962 and boasts an extensive catalogue of iconic lamps created by legendary design names — Philippe Starck, Patricia Urquiola, Ron Gilad, Michael Anastassiades and Vincent Van Duysen among them.
Flos joined Design Holding in 2018 when Investindustrial and the Carlyle Group formed the holding company which had under its umbrella at the time B&B Italia, Maxalto, Azucena, Arclinea to lighting Louis Poulsen. Roberta Silva was named Flos’ CEO in 2019. Silva stepped down in 2024.
Looking ahead, Gandini said his focus will be consolidating the group’s position on a worldwide scale. “The clear industrial focus of the furniture and lighting divisions will be a strategic asset in precisely addressing the opportunities and challenges of each sector, with the shared goal of consolidating our position as a benchmark of excellence in global markets,” he said.
In the statement, the group’s main investors lauded Gandini’s track record.
“We are truly pleased to work again with a partner like Piero, with whom we share a long-standing relationship. We are confident that Piero’s contribution, both from a creative and especially an industrial perspective, will help accelerate the long-term value creation of the Group,” said Andrea C. Bonomi, chairman of the advisory board of Investindustrial.
Marco De Benedetti, chairman of Italy at Carlyle, said that Gandini will spearhead a new phase of growth: “He brings with him a unique knowledge of the sector and extensive experience, making him the ideal candidate to support the Group as it prepares for its next phase of growth.”
