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User:Burgmaestro/Vittorio Tabacchi (businessman)

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Vittorio Tabacchi is an Italian businessman, former president and CEO of the eyewear manufacturing company Safilo, which was founded by his father Guglielmo Tabacchi.

Family

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Vittorio is the second son of Guglielmo Tabacchi. His older brother is Giuliano and his younger brother is Ermenegildo.[1] The Tabacchi family still controlled 9.22% of Safilo through its holding Only 3T,[2] until it was liquidated in 2017-2018,[1] leaving the family with just 2% of Safilo's shares.[3]

Biography

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Tabacchi started working at the Safilo plant in 1959. He soon left for military service, but came back to the family business a year later.[4] During his early career in the eyewear manufacturing industry, Tabacchi worked with Leonardo Del Vecchio, founder of Safilo's main competitor Luxottica.[5]

In 1974, Guglielmo Tabacchi died, leaving his three sons at the helms of Safilo.[6] Vittorio Tabacchi significantly contributed to the creation of the Eyewear Museum that opened in 1990 in Pieve di Cadore.[7] In 1993, he became chairman of Safilo, succeeding to his brother Giuliano, and oriented production towards sunglasses and sports eyewear.[4] In 2000, Vittorio eyed the acquisition of Ray-Ban but his brothers opposed it[6] (or he was opposed to it alongside his brothers[5]), leaving it to their direct competitor Luxottica.[6]

From 2001 to 2003, he was president of the Associazione Nazionale Fabbricanti Articoli Ottici (ANFAO).[8]

In May 2001, he acquired the entire family's shares in Safilo (60%) and in December 2001, he acquired the remaining 40%.[4] He brought Safilo public again in 2005, and hired Roberto Vedovotto in 2009 to bring the Dutch fund Hal Investments as a shareholder.[6] In 2007, he became again president of ANFAO,[8] reelected at this position in July 2009.[9]

In July 2010, Tabacchi was appointed president of the European Federation of Precision Mechanical and Optical Industries, Eurom 1,[10] and was reappointed in 2013 for one more year.[11]

In 2020, as the Tabacchi family barely owned a remaining 2% of Safilo, Vittorio Tabacchi criticized Hal Investments' management of Safilo, including the new upper management brought from Procter & Gamble, the missed Dior deal, the massive layoffs and the loss of competitiveness against Thélios (LVMH-funded eyewear manufacturer).[3]

Awards

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Safilo liquidata dalla famiglia la sfida perduta dei Tabacchi". Il Mattino di Padova (in Italian). 2018-05-13. Retrieved 2023-04-18.
  2. ^ "Vittorio Tabacchi claims "too many mistakes" were made at Safilo". Eyewear Intelligence. 2018-02-27. Retrieved 2023-04-18.
  3. ^ a b "Il grido d'accusa di Vittorio Tabacchi: «Incapaci, avete distrutto la mia Safilo»". www.ilgazzettino.it (in Italian). 2020-01-09. Retrieved 2023-06-03.
  4. ^ a b c "Safilo at 75" (PDF). WWD. 23 March 2009. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
  5. ^ a b "Tabacchi: «Grandi rivali nel business ma amici nella vita. Leonardo mi superò con una grande intuizione»". Corriere del Veneto (in Italian). 2022-06-28. Retrieved 2023-04-21.
  6. ^ a b c d "Safilo-Luxottica, l’eterno duello per la conquista dei brand del lusso". la Repubblica (in Italian). 2014-09-08. Retrieved 2023-04-18.
  7. ^ "Eyewear Museum". www.culturalheritageonline.com. Retrieved 2023-04-21.
  8. ^ a b "WMido | Vittorio Tabacchi new President of ANFAO and MIDO". www.mido.com. 27 September 2007. Retrieved 2023-04-21.
  9. ^ Staff. "Vittorio Tabacchi Re-Elected President of ANFAO and MIDO". www.2020mag.com. Retrieved 2023-06-20.
  10. ^ "In Brief". Optician Online. 22 July 2010. Retrieved 2023-04-21.
  11. ^ "Vittorio Tabacchi, former president of Safilo, was reappointed president of..." Eyewear Intelligence. 2013-08-09. Retrieved 2023-04-21.
  12. ^ "Honoris causa degree for Vittorio Tabacchi". www.mido.com. 30 April 2004. Retrieved 2023-04-21.
  13. ^ Danesin, Matteo (2004). "Laurea Honoris Causa: Lelio Orci e Vittorio Tabacchi". Honoris Causae 25 giugno 2004 (3/2004). Retrieved 2023-06-03.
  14. ^ "Tabacchi honoured". Optician Online. 16 March 2011. Retrieved 2023-04-21.
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