LONGARONE, Italy—De Rigo Group S.p.A. announced on Friday changes in its North American leadership. Alessandro Baronti, who has served as president of De Rigo Rem for the past six and a half years, will leave the organization at the end of July. On July 8, Jeff Fitzhugh will step into the role of president of De Rigo Rem. In a release, the company said, “With a proven track record of success, Jeff will bring valuable experience that aligns with our Group vision and goals. Jeff will start to work closely with Alessandro Baronti and the leadership team of De Rigo Rem to ensure a smooth transition.”

Fitzhugh has held several roles in companies including Converse, DC Shoes, Oakley and, in the recent past, the role of president and CEO of RAEN Optics, the announcement stated.

“We would like to take the opportunity to express our sincere gratitude to Alessandro for his dedication, hard work and strong contribution to our organization during his tenure and we wish him all the best in his future endeavors," said Michele Aracri, managing director of De Rigo Group. "After careful consideration and a thorough evaluation of our strategic goals, we will make an important leadership change to better position ourselves for accelerating our growth. We believe that this change will not only strengthen our company growth but will also create new opportunities for innovation and collaboration. Our commitment and our investments in North America will be our top priority for the next years and we will do everything in our power to ensure the growth of our team and our company.”

 
 Alessandro Baronti.
In a statement on LinkedIn, Alessandro Baronti wrote, “I am writing to announce that I decided to leave the organization, this decision marks the beginning of a new chapter in my professional journey. My last day as president and CEO is going to be July 8 with a transition period until July 31 to assist and ensure a very smooth transition for the new president.

“I am immensely grateful for the vast learning experiences and opportunities I have encountered, which have significantly enhanced my scope of expertise," he continued. "These experiences have not only honed my skills but also prepared me to take my professional endeavors to the next level… I look forward to staying in touch and watching De Rigo Rem continue to thrive in the future and carry on the legacy that made me so proud during the last few years.”

The De Rigo Group is a global player in the optical retail business with its own chains, General Optica (Spain), Mais Optica (Portugal) and Opmar Optik (Turkey), and with its affiliate Boots Opticians (UK). Its wholesale network, managed by De Rigo Vision S.p.A., distributes the Group’s brands in approximately 100 countries, mainly in Europe, Asia and the Americas, through 23 companies and a global network of independent distributors. The Group is active in major global markets with its own brands Lozza, Police, Sting and Yalea, and with the licenses Aramis, Barrow, Blumarine, Chopard, Diff Eyewear, Roberto Cavalli, Just Cavalli, Escada, Fila, Furla, Gap, John Varvatos, Jones New York, Lucky Brand, Mulberry, Nina Ricci, Porsche Design, Philipp Plein, Plein Sport, Rodenstock, Tous, Tumi, Twinset, Victor Hugo and Zadig&Voltaire.