Brands
Versace appoints Pieter Mulier as chief creative officer
MILAN: Versace has chosen Pieter Mulier to chart its next creative chapter, handing the Alaïa designer the role of chief creative officer as the Italian luxury house reshapes itself under Prada Group ownership.
The appointment, announced jointly by Prada Group and Versace, puts Mulier at the creative helm of one of fashion’s most recognisable brands, with a brief to honour its bold heritage while sharpening its future edge. Mulier will report to executive chairman Lorenzo Bertelli.
“When we considered the Versace acquisition, we identified Pieter Mulier as the right person for the brand. We believe that he can truly unlock Versace’s full potential and that he will be able to engage in a fruitful dialogue with the brand’s strong legacy. We are excited to begin this journey together,” Bertelli said.
Mulier arrives with decades of experience shaping distinctive aesthetics at some of the world’s leading fashion houses. Over his career, he has worked closely with Raf Simons and contributed to the success of brands such as Jil Sander, Dior and Calvin Klein.
After studying design and architecture, he was selected by Simons to join Jil Sander, serving as head of accessories, shoes and bags. He later became design director at Christian Dior, then global creative director at Calvin Klein, before taking on the creative director role at Maison Alaïa, where his work drew critical acclaim for modernising couture codes.
His move to Versace comes soon after Prada Group completed its acquisition of the label in December 2025. The deal, first announced in April 2025, saw Prada agree to buy 100 per cent of Versace from US-based Capri Holdings for about $1.38 billion. The transaction, one of the largest in Italy’s luxury sector in recent years, returned the Medusa-emblazoned house to Italian ownership.
For Versace, the message is clear: heritage will be protected, but the tempo will quicken. With Mulier in charge, the house is betting that disciplined design and fresh energy can turn legacy into momentum — and momentum into growth.
Brands
Rohini Laya Venkateswaran named executive director at Gillette India
P&G veteran with two decades of experience steps into leadership role
NEW DELHI: Rohini Laya Venkateswaran has been appointed executive director at Gillette India Pvt. Ltd., bringing with her more than two decades of experience across sales, strategy and brand leadership within the consumer goods sector. In her new role, she will help steer the company’s strategic direction and growth while strengthening its footprint in the grooming and personal care category.
Venkateswaran joins the board after a long career at Procter & Gamble, where she spent nearly 21 years shaping sales strategy, building brands and driving market expansion across India and international markets.
Most recently, she served as chief sales officer for India at P&G. Prior to that, she was vice president and country manager for east gulf markets, overseeing operations in Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain and Qatar while also guiding sales strategy across the Gulf region, including the UAE.
Earlier in her career, she led sales strategy and planning for India while serving as marketing leader for brands such as Olay and Old Spice. During this stint, she focused on reshaping go-to-market channels and building awareness through digital, social and influencer-led campaigns to drive growth.
Her journey at P&G also included roles such as director sales strategy and planning leader India, associate director modern retail and ecommerce, regional manager for Delhi and Rajasthan, and several key account and trade marketing roles across the country. She also spent time in the United States working on the P&G Walmart international team, collaborating on global retail initiatives.
Venkateswaran holds an MBA in marketing from SP Jain Institute of Management and Research and a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from RV College of Engineering.
With her mix of sales acumen, brand-building experience and global exposure, Venkateswaran’s appointment signals a sharpened focus on growth and market leadership for Gillette India.
