During the summer break, Jil Sander, the renowned German fashion label, quietly went through a CEO transition. Ubaldo Minelli, the current CEO of Italian fashion group OTB, has taken over the position previously held by Axel Keller. This change comes after OTB acquired Jil Sander in March of this year. Keller initially joined Jil Sander in 2018 as the commercial director and later earned a promotion to CEO. Prior to his time at Jil Sander, Keller gained experience working for prestigious brands like Balenciaga and Maison Martin Margiela.
On the other hand, Minelli has a longstanding history within the OTB group and has served in various executive roles. OTB, owned by Renzo Rosso, stands as the parent company of several influential fashion labels including Jil Sander, Diesel, Maison Margiela, Marni, Viktor & Rolf. Additionally, OTB holds minority stakes in Amiri, Brave Kid, and Staff International. Staff International plays a crucial role in producing garments for multiple brands, including the likes of Marni and Margiela.
Minelli’s previous leadership experience includes heading Staff International as well as Marni. He was appointed as CEO of OTB in 2017. With his new role overseeing Jil Sander, OTB now gains full control over the esteemed fashion house. The creative direction of the brand has been guided by Lucie and Luke Meier since 2017. After showcasing its latest collection in Paris, Jil Sander will return to Milan for its upcoming runway show on September 22.
Link 1: OTB Official Website
Link 2: Jil Sander Official Website
