Santo Versace
| The Honourable Santo Versace | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the Chamber of Deputies | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 2008-2013 | |
| Constituency | Calabria |
| Personal details | |
| Born | December 16, 1944 Reggio Calabria, Italy |
| Political party | Alliance for Italy |
| Profession | Businessman Politician |
| Religion | Roman Catholic[citation needed] |
Santo Versace (born December 16, 1944) 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,[1] formerly being a member of The People of Freedom.[2]
Biography
Early life
He was born on December 16, 1944 in Reggio Calabria 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.[3] 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.
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, Allegra and Daniel Versace.
Career & professional life
In 1968 Santo graduated from the University of Messina 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.[citation needed]
Notes and references
- ↑ http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/2011/novembre/13/Versace_passa_all_Api_Rutelli_co_8_111113044.shtml
- ↑ Foti, Anna (10 November 2010). "Centrale a carbone di Saline Joniche, ancora iniziative istituzionali e non". Reggio TV (in Italian). Retrieved 21 December 2010.
- ↑ Collins, Lauren (September 24, 2007). "Mondo Donatella". The New Yorker: 158. Retrieved 21 December 2010