Kering takes hands-on approach at Caravel after Dolfi brothers leave

04/06/2015
Tuscan tannery Caravel is now being run by Filippo Nishino, the director of luxury industry operations at Kering, the group that has had a controlling stake in the tannery for some years.

Before its acquisition by Kering, Gucci acquired a stake in Caravel in 2001. Kering then increased its ownership of the tanning operations, which specialises in exotic skins, to 100% in 2008.

In the space of two weeks in May, brothers Alessandro and Andrea Dolfi both left Caravel. The Dolfi brothers set up the Fucecchio-based tannery in 1989 and ran it until now. Andrea Dolfi was the managing director and his brother was technical director.

Kering said in a statement that the changes would have no effect on Caravel’s operations or on its customers. It said it hoped Mr Nishino would provide “a new impulse” to the business.