SPHERE at 20th Annual FT Business of Luxury Summit Venice

Luxury’s biggest names are ducking into gondolas this May to join together in the heart of Italian opulence, the floating city of Venice. The Business of Luxury Summit, hosted by the Financial Times, is celebrating its 20th Annual gathering this year. With that, a series of enriching and insightful events are in order that hope to top all nineteen years prior. It's sure to be a buzzing and action-packed three days, brimming with fresh luxury knowledge and discussion. Hearing from and sipping drinks with some of the most respected CEOs, Managing Directors and business founders the industry has to offer. Our own Lisa Barnard, CEO of ILN and now also SPHERE's Digital Editor, attended the very first FT Business of Luxury Summit in Shanghai. For this year's summit, SPHERE is officially a Supporting Partner - meaning we can offer 20% off registration to the events with a simple code: SPHERE20

The Summit will kick-off on Sunday 19th May with welcome drinks at Palazzo Pisani Moretta, a charming palace on the Grand Canal. Leading into a speaker’s dinner at an exclusive (and surely grandiose) residence. All summit sessions and networking breaks will be taking place at the Summit venue, Hilton Molino Stucky Venice. Whilst the Gala drinks and dinner will be in the enchanting grounds of Hotel Cipriani, before heading back to Molino Stucky for the Summit’s final hurrah – a showstopping after party till late. Expectations are surely high after 2023’s Summit Gala Dinner. Led by guest of honour, His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco where Olivier award-winner, Beverley Knight, was brought out for a surprise performance.

Last year, we saw an array of top-tier speakers from Chairman and CEO of LVMH, Sidney Teledano, to CEO of Alaïa, Myriam Serrano and Chief Executive of Mulberry, Thierry Andretta. It’s safe to say that this year FT has pulled out all the stops yet again. So, let’s introduce some of 2024’s Summit speakers.

Introducing the Luxury Summit Speakers 2024

Francesca Belletini is President and CEO of French luxury fashion house, Yves Saint Laurent, as well as the Deputy CEO of Kering Group - in charge of brand development. Prior to this role, Belletini held director positions within Kering for Bottega Veneta and Gucci. However, her career journey all started in London as an investment banker for Goldman Sachs International.

American designer, Kelly Wearstler, founded her own interior design firm after her name during the mid 1990s. Wearstler has since established her name across social media and a unique design look through her firm - working primarily with luxury residential and hospitality spaces with partnerships from Maison Margiela to Louis Vuitton.

Australian Industrial Designer, Marc Newson, has been labelled as one of the most influential designers of his time. This is no surprise after his input into the the Apple watch, whose square-screen is pasted onto wrists across the globe. Newson is the owner of his own design brand, Marc Newson Ltd, where the client list is only filled with prestige - from Ferrari to Hermés and Montblanc.

Francesca Amfitheatrof, is the Artistic Director of Watches and Jewellery at Louis Vuitton. Prior to this role, Amfitheatrof was the Design Director of Tiffany & Co. Alongside, she is the creator of her own unisex and sustainable jewellery brand, Pauer Jewellery, offering simplistic sterling silver pieces and handmade Italian charm bracelets.

Italian businessman, Andrea Guerra, has held the position of Prada's CEO since 2023. Prior to this role, he was CEO of Luxottica for over a decade and more recently has worked for multiple years within the LVMH Group - as CEO of Hotel and Hospitalities Activities and as Strategic Advisor. 

Learn more and book both online and in-person passes for the FT Business of Luxury Summit 2024 via this link, and receive 20% off registration with the code: SPHERE20

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