Alessandro Baronti.
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LONGARONE, Italy—De Rigo Group SpA has announced the appointment of Alessandro Baronti as president of their North American subsidiary, De Rigo REM. In his new role, Baronti will oversee the entire American team, reporting directly to the De Rigo Group board. He will join the company on Jan. 19. The company said the decision is aimed at bringing growth, profit and sustainability as well as to further strengthen the group’s position in the industry. “As president, Baronti will be instrumental in driving De Rigo’s overall success and competiveness in North America which continues to serve as one of the key markets for growth opportunity internationally,” the announcement said. Baronti succeeds Steve Horowitz, a long-time REM and industry executive, who will be moving on to pursue other business opportunities in the industry.

“Alessandro brings a vibrant view of the American eyecare market that is certain to invigorate all we do for consumers, practitioners, and our organization,” said Mike Hundert, De Rigo REM CEO. “His experience coupled with the wisdom of our veteran staff will create more modern ways to help retailers be successful. Supporting this effort is the unique culture at the heart of our 65-year-old organization. We thank our long-time president, Steve Horowitz, who has been a large part of building that culture, and the reputation it has earned. During this transition, Steve steps into an advisory role to Alessandro, providing institutional knowledge and historical insights.”

Baronti brings over 30 years of optical experience to De Rigo REM. Getting his start internationally at Optyl Italia, he began his journey in the U.S. as a sales consultant for Luxottica Wholesale North America, moving through the organization to lead the U.S. sales market as the vice president of sales for the Western region. Most recently, Baronti served as the vice president of industry relations and education for Luxottica, for the U.S. and Canada, where he developed strategic direction of the group’s educational messaging and training focused on business growth and retail value.

“I am honored to have been elected as De Rigo REM’s next president and I have always been delighted at the prospect of leading a company. It is a privilege to be part of a privately owned organization that manufactures and delivers high quality products, with a large portfolio of brands, innovative solutions and has a complete focus of supporting independent optometrists. My role here will be to grow the business, to provide the maximum support to our customer base and to develop our most talented professionals into leaders,” said Baronti.

Horowitz, who has been REM’s president for the past 22 years, will take on an advisory role within the company through mid-March to ensure a seamless transition during this time of change, the announcement said.

Stated Horowitz, “I am very grateful for the journey I have been on with REM over the years, working side by side with the wonderful men and women of the company who have become family. I am thankful for the incredible opportunity I have had to grow the team internally and am proud of the extraordinary results we were able to achieve as the company enters a new chapter of growth and prosperity. With the weaving of the two businesses completed, it creates the right moment for me to take on a different role, helping the next generation of leaders to drive the enterprise forward.”

De Rigo Group is a leading global player in the optical retail business with its own chains, General Optica (Spain), Mais Optica (Portugal) and Opmar Optik (Turkey), and with its subsidiary, Boots Opticians (UK). Its extensive wholesale network, managed by De Rigo Vision SpA, distributes the group’s products in approximately 80 countries, mainly in Europe, Asia and the Americas, through 16 companies and over 100 independent distributors.

The Group is active in all the major markets of the world with its own brands Lozza, Lozza Sartoriale, Police and Sting, and with the licenses Blumarine, Carolina Herrera New York, CH Carolina Herrera, Chopard, Converse, dunhill London, Escada, Fila, Furla, John Varvatos, Jones New York, Lanvin, Lucky Brand, Nina Ricci, Tous, Trussardi, Victor Hugo and Zadig&Voltaire.