Paola Triolo replaces Francesca di Carrobio at the Italian subsidiary of the saddle maker, which also covers Greece. Hermès has also just opened a new, larger store in Seoul, South Korea. Hermès has chosen a luxury expert with a strong knowledge of the group to head its Italian subsidiary, which also covers its activities in Greece.
On September 1, Paola Triolo replaced Francesca di Carrobio, who had held the position for almost two decades.
Francesca di Carrobio, who joined the luxury house in 1987, will continue to contribute her experience to the group, both globally and locally. Appointed Director of Strategic Affairs and Group Relations, she also becomes President of Hermès Italy and will continue to sit on the board of directors of Hermès Italy.
A great challenge
For her part, Paola Triolo faces a great challenge: to do as well as her predecessor. Under the leadership of Francesca di Carrobio, Hermès has “significantly expanded its presence in the region, establishing a network of twelve stores in Italy and Greece.” She thus “played a key role in establishing the brand in the Italian luxury landscape, combining a long-term strategy with expertise in the local market.”
A graduate of the prestigious Bocconi University, Paola Triolo was a partner at the consulting firm Accenture for 33 years, where she worked in the consumer goods and luxury goods sector.
In early 2015, she joined Hermès as Director of Information Systems, based in Paris.
She is now returning to Milan, Italy, to carry the torch for the prestigious luxury brand.
Selective policy
It remains to be seen whether she will continue the selective policy of favoring high-end local customers over passing trade, as reported by Reddit (a giant forum where users post, share, and discuss content on all kinds of topics).
In the administrative and fashion capitals of Rome and Milan, the iconic Kelly and Birkin bags are also reserved for local VIPs and are often difficult to obtain, making them difficult for visitors to get their hands on. Similarly, in Athens, the Greek capital, queues are also frequent and in-store selection is limited.
In other country news for Hermès, this time concerning South Korea, the saddler has just inaugurated its new, enlarged and relocated store in the Galleria mall, located in the Gangnam district of Seoul, the country’s capital.
“Now located in the mall’s west hall, the store’s harmonious space showcases the sixteen crafts of the maison in a bright setting and reveals Hermès’ expertise, while reaffirming its attachment to the region,” Hermès explains in a press release.
New generations of South Koreans
Once again designed by the Parisian architecture firm RDAI, the store “celebrates both ancient art and the dynamism of new generations of South Koreans.” The walls, covered in silk and pleated paper lighting fixtures by Jungmo Kwon, are a nod to local artisans and artists, while sketches, illustrations, and paintings from the Émile Hermès collection, as well as pieces from the Hermès collection of contemporary photographs, complete the store’s decor.
While Hermès’ theme this year is “Drawing in all its forms,” the window displays designed by Korean artist Miju Lee “capture the very essence of drawing by exploring creation through time, sensation, and memory.” Finally, “the two scenes in the window displays come together and invite the public on a poetic journey where the details of everyday life are transformed into evocative reflections on the collective imagination.”
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Featured photo: © Hermès
