Luxottica’s Global Channels division has created two new roles to support its business development function. Elisabetta Corradini is named Retail Airport Business Development Director, effective 1 March, while Francesco Calcagnile is appointed as Special Channels Business Development Director and is in place since January. Both are based in Milan, reporting directly to Luxottica Global Channels Director Alessandro Pozzi.
Corradini will support Luxottica’s strategy to develop across multiple formats in airports, while exploring opportunities for standalone concepts for Luxottica’s brands.
She will be responsible in particular for driving the expansion of the Sunglass Hut brand at airports, directly-operated and in partnership with travel retailers and/or local partners. Currently, 65 of the 250+ airport stores of Sunglass Hut worldwide are managed under a partnership model.
She is also charged with exploring opportunities for standalone concepts for brands including Ray-Ban and Oakley.
Calcagnile, in addition to his role as Commercial Operations Director of Global Channels, is tasked with developing Special Channels, which includes inflight, cruise & ferries and hotels & resorts, with a particular focus on digital sales solutions.
Corradini has a professional background in investment banking. Her career has taken her to London and Singapore, before joining the Luxottica Group’s M&A and Business Development team in 2014.
Calcagnile has been with Luxottica Group for over 12 years, including overseeing Luxottica’s transformation programme. In 2015, he became Commercial Operations Director of Global Channels, where he manages the sales support function for travel retail and global mono-brand boutiques.
Advising on the new roles, the company said: “With these two new business development roles, Luxottica Global Channels is demonstrating its commitment to accelerating sunglasses category growth, through the expansion of the presence of Sunglass Hut and other retail solutions at airports, as well as exploring opportunities in high potential channels where the sunglasses category is currently under-represented.”
