Ex-Gucci boss lined up by Carlyle as End chairman

By

Sandra Halliday

Published
Oct 18, 2021

​Patrizio di Marco, is believed to be teaming up with private equity giant Carlyle again with a report that he’s set to take over as chairman of UK luxury retailer End.

Di Marco was formerly CEO of Gucci when Frida Giannini was its creative chief and Sky News reported that he will take the same role at End that he had at another Carlyle property — Golden Goose — before its sale. However, Carlyle has declined to comment so the appointment is, for now, unconfirmed.

Carlyle acquired End in a £750 million deal in March with founders Christiaan Ashworth and John Parker selling a controlling stake in the 16-year-old business while remaining co-chief executives.

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The company had begun with a menswear store in Newcastle but then launched into e-commerce, a move that fuelled strong growth. The company also has a store in London’s Soho but mainly sells the 500+ luxury and sports brands it stocks via its webstore in over 100 countries.

As mentioned, Di Marco previously worked with Carlyle when he was chairman of its Golden Goose luxury brand. That was before it was sold to Permira for more than three-and-a-half times what Carlyle had paid for it.