Santo Versace
Encyclopedia
Santo Versace is the president
and co-chief executive officer
of Gianni Versace SpA, based in Milan
, Italy
. Since 2008 he has been elected as Member of the Chamber of Deputies
of the Italian Republic in the constituency of Calabria
. He is a member of the Alliance for Italy
political party, formerly being a member of The People of Freedom
.
where he grew up with his younger siblings Gianni
and Donatella
, along with their father, Antonio, and dressmaker mother, Francesca. An older sister, Tina, died at the age of twelve from an improperly treated tetanus
infection
. By age six, Versace joined his father and continued to work after school and summers with him until he attended university. When not in school, he helped care for his younger sister, Donatella
.
and Daniel Versace.
with a degree in economics
. He began working first as a banker in Reggio Calabria
for Credito Italiano and later as a high school
teacher
of economics and geography
. In 1972, he completed his military service as an officer
in the “Genova Cavalleria.” Upon completion of his service, Santo opened his own accounting office in both Reggio Calabria and Milan. In 1976, he joined his brother Gianni Versace
in Milan to support him in his rising career.
In 1977, Santo Versace, along with Gianni, founded the Gianni Versace trademark
. Santo played a leading role in the success of the Versace brand by focusing on communication, organization, productivity, and quality. He oversaw all areas of the business--including sales, distribution, production and finance--and quickly became one of the industry's leading and most well-respected businesspeople.
With their sister, Donatella, the team built the Versace Empire into a worldwide luxury company generating over $1 billion per year in retail sales. Today, together with Donatella, Santo continues to lead the house of Versace.
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
and co-chief executive officer
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
of Gianni Versace SpA, based in Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. Since 2008 he has been elected as Member of the Chamber of Deputies
Italian Chamber of Deputies
The Italian Chamber of Deputies is the lower house of the Parliament of Italy. It has 630 seats, a plurality of which is controlled presently by liberal-conservative party People of Freedom. Twelve deputies represent Italian citizens outside of Italy. Deputies meet in the Palazzo Montecitorio. A...
of the Italian Republic in the constituency of Calabria
Calabria
Calabria , in antiquity known as Bruttium, is a region in southern Italy, south of Naples, located at the "toe" of the Italian Peninsula. The capital city of Calabria is Catanzaro....
. He is a member of the Alliance for Italy
Alliance for Italy
Alliance for Italy is a centrist political party in Italy.The party, which is described in its manifesto as "democratic, liberal, popular" as opposed both to "right-wing populism" and the "social-democratic left, an experience with high and memorable value, yet by now run out", was launched on 11...
political party, formerly being a member of The People of Freedom
The People of Freedom
The People of Freedom is a centre-right political party in Italy. With the Democratic Party, it is one of the two major parties of the current Italian party system....
.
Early life
He was born on December 16, 1944 in Reggio CalabriaReggio Calabria
Reggio di Calabria , commonly known as Reggio Calabria or Reggio, is the biggest city and the most populated comune of Calabria, southern Italy, and is the capital of the Province of Reggio Calabria and seat of the Council of Calabrian government.Reggio is located on the "toe" of the Italian...
where he grew up with his younger siblings Gianni
Gianni Versace
Gianni Versace was an Italian fashion designer and founder of Gianni Versace S.p.A., an international fashion house, which produces accessories, fragrances, makeup and home furnishings as well as clothes. He also designed costumes for the theatre and films, and was a friend of Madonna, Elton John,...
and Donatella
Donatella Versace
Donatella Versace is an Italian fashion designer and current Vice-President of the Versace Group, as well as chief designer. She owns 20 percent of the entire stock market assets of Versace. Her brother, Santo Versace, owns 30 percent...
, along with their father, Antonio, and dressmaker mother, Francesca. An older sister, Tina, died at the age of twelve from an improperly treated tetanus
Tetanus
Tetanus is a medical condition characterized by a prolonged contraction of skeletal muscle fibers. The primary symptoms are caused by tetanospasmin, a neurotoxin produced by the Gram-positive, rod-shaped, obligate anaerobic bacterium Clostridium tetani...
infection
Infection
An infection is the colonization of a host organism by parasite species. Infecting parasites seek to use the host's resources to reproduce, often resulting in disease...
. By age six, Versace joined his father and continued to work after school and summers with him until he attended university. When not in school, he helped care for his younger sister, Donatella
Donatella
Donatella is a 1956 Italian comedy film directed by Mario Monicelli. At the 6th Berlin International Film Festival Elsa Martinelli won the Silver Bear for Best Actress.-Cast:* Elsa Martinelli - Donatella* Gabriele Ferzetti - Maurizio...
.
Personal life
In 1998, Santo was appointed president of the Italian Fashion Chamber where he served from 1998–1999. Santo is married to Cristiana. They live in Milan with their two children, Francesca and Antonio. He is also the uncle of his sister Donatella's two children, AllegraAllegra Versace
Allegra Beck Versace is an Italian heiress, aspiring actress, and major shareholder in the Versace company. She is the daughter of designer Donatella Versace and ex-fashion model Paul Beck.- Early life and fortune:...
and Daniel Versace.
Career & professional life
In 1968 Santo graduated from the University of MessinaUniversity of Messina
The University of Messina is a public university located in Messina, Italy, and founded in 1548. The university is organized in 11 Faculties.-History:...
with a degree in economics
Economics
Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...
. He began working first as a banker in Reggio Calabria
Reggio Calabria
Reggio di Calabria , commonly known as Reggio Calabria or Reggio, is the biggest city and the most populated comune of Calabria, southern Italy, and is the capital of the Province of Reggio Calabria and seat of the Council of Calabrian government.Reggio is located on the "toe" of the Italian...
for Credito Italiano and later as a high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
teacher
Teacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
of economics and geography
Geography
Geography is the science that studies the lands, features, inhabitants, and phenomena of Earth. A literal translation would be "to describe or write about the Earth". The first person to use the word "geography" was Eratosthenes...
. In 1972, he completed his military service as an officer
Officer (armed forces)
An officer is a member of an armed force or uniformed service who holds a position of authority. Commissioned officers derive authority directly from a sovereign power and, as such, hold a commission charging them with the duties and responsibilities of a specific office or position...
in the “Genova Cavalleria.” Upon completion of his service, Santo opened his own accounting office in both Reggio Calabria and Milan. In 1976, he joined his brother Gianni Versace
Gianni Versace
Gianni Versace was an Italian fashion designer and founder of Gianni Versace S.p.A., an international fashion house, which produces accessories, fragrances, makeup and home furnishings as well as clothes. He also designed costumes for the theatre and films, and was a friend of Madonna, Elton John,...
in Milan to support him in his rising career.
In 1977, Santo Versace, along with Gianni, founded the Gianni Versace trademark
Trademark
A trademark, trade mark, or trade-mark is a distinctive sign or indicator used by an individual, business organization, or other legal entity to identify that the products or services to consumers with which the trademark appears originate from a unique source, and to distinguish its products or...
. Santo played a leading role in the success of the Versace brand by focusing on communication, organization, productivity, and quality. He oversaw all areas of the business--including sales, distribution, production and finance--and quickly became one of the industry's leading and most well-respected businesspeople.
With their sister, Donatella, the team built the Versace Empire into a worldwide luxury company generating over $1 billion per year in retail sales. Today, together with Donatella, Santo continues to lead the house of Versace.