Claudio Del Vecchio, a son of Leonardo Del Vecchio, joined the Group in 1978 and has been a Director since 1986. From 1979 to 1982, he managed our Italian and German distribution operations. From 1982 until 1997, he was responsible for all business operations of the Group in North America. He also serves as a Director of U.S. Holdings, a key subsidiary in North America. Claudio Del Vecchio is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Retail Brand Alliance, Inc., the owner of Brooks Brothers.