Rose Marie Bravo

Rose Marie Bravo (née LaPila;[1] January 13, 1951, Bronx, New York)[2] is an American businesswoman. During her career, she has occupied leadership positions in several major fashion businesses and is now vice chairman at Burberry, of which she was CEO from 1997 to 2005.

Biography

Bravo's Italian-born father, Biagio LaPila,[3] owned a hairdressing business in the Bronx, New York, and her Sicilian-born mother, Anna, was a seamstress. She attended the elite public Bronx High School of Science[4] She went on to study English literature at Fordham University, graduating in 1971.[1][5]

She graduated cum laude and joined Abraham and Straus' department store at Long Island as a buyer in 1971. In 1974, she was recruited by Macy's. When Macy's bought I. Magnin in 1988, she headed the acquired asset until the bankruptcy of Macy's in 1992. After five more years as President and Chief Merchant of Saks Fifth Avenue, and member of the Board of Directors of Saks Holdings Inc.,[6] Victor Barnett hired her to be chief executive of Burberry.[7]

In her new job, she initiated a radical reform of the British classic brand and improvements of the company structure. Her strategy included signing top model Kate Moss and recruiting the young designer Christopher Bailey in 2001, who was working for Gucci at that time.[8] The Burberry line of products was greatly increased and especially the newly added perfumes contributed to the company's raising profits. Under her tenure, Burberry launched fragrances, purses, children's wear and doggie macs.[9]

With Bravo as a CEO, Burberry managed to expand greatly on the US market. The company's sales doubled from US$470 million to US$1 billion.[5] The same happened to the profits, e. g. in the six months before September 30, 2003 they increased to a total of US$115 million.[10]

In 2005, Burberry announced Bravo would step down for Angela Ahrendts (formerly Liz Claiborne). After a 6 months transitional period, Bravo retired as a CEO and became vice chairman of Burberry.

Other roles
  • Member of the Fordham University Board of Trustees[1]

Awards

Personal life

Rose Marie Bravo is married to William Jackey.[15] The couple sold part of their 15-acre Long Island waterfront estate in Tuthill Cove, East Moriches, Suffolk County, New York in 2022.[15][16]

References
  1. "Rose Marie Bravo | Fordham". www.fordham.edu. Retrieved September 5, 2022.
  2. Dräger, Susanne (May 10, 2001). "Money Maker: Bravo, Rose Marie". Focus Online Money. Focus AG. Retrieved January 2, 2009.
  3. Obituary: Biagio LaPila, legacy.com. Accessed July 23, 2023.
  4. "Alumni Hall of Fame". bxscience.edu. Retrieved September 5, 2022.
  5. Zimbalist, Kristina (2004). "Women in Fashion: Rose Marie Bravo. The Power List, #1". Time Magazine. Archived from the original on February 9, 2004. Retrieved December 8, 2007.
  6. Marcantonio, Sarah. "Delivering Good's Lifetime Achievement Award: Honoring Rose Marie Bravo – Delivering Good". Retrieved May 12, 2020.
  7. Heller, Richard (January 24, 2000). "Can this woman do a Gucci on Burberry". Forbes.
  8. "Postcards from the Digital Age". bockinfo.com. November 16, 2004. Retrieved December 8, 2007.
  9. "Mammon interview: Bravo encore at Burberry". the Guardian. June 2, 2002. Retrieved September 5, 2022.
  10. "The Best Managers of 2003". BusinessWeek. January 12, 2004. Archived from the original on January 6, 2004. Retrieved December 8, 2007.
  11. "The Wall Street Journal 2004 Special Report: 50 Women to Watch". ruggedelegantliving.com. November 9, 2004. Archived from the original on February 1, 2013. Retrieved December 8, 2007.
  12. "Most Powerful Women in Business". Fortune Magazine. November 14, 2005. Archived from the original on February 26, 2009. Retrieved December 8, 2007.
  13. "Rose Marie Bravo: #63". images.forbes.com. Retrieved September 5, 2022.
  14. Bravo receives Honorary CBE, nytimes.com. June 19, 2006.
  15. Gould, Jennifer (April 6, 2022). "Fashion exec Rose Marie Bravo sells part of her Long Island estate listed for $7.2M". New York Post. Retrieved September 5, 2022.
  16. Doherty, Ruth (August 20, 2021). "Inside a coastal-chic waterfront Long Island home owned by top Burberry exec Rose Marie Bravo". Homesandgardens.com. Retrieved September 5, 2022.

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