Leaders in Finance: Silvia Ponzoni, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial officer Italy & Greece at Richemont

On February 10, 2025, the MCF hosted Silvia Ponzoni, Managing Director & Chief Financial Officer of Richemont Italy and Greece. The discussion was led by Federico Pippo, MCF Director, and focused on the evolving role of finance in global industries, with a focus on strategic vision, flexibility, and the necessity of courageous decision-making in an increasingly complex world.

Silvia Ponzoni’s career in finance has been marked by steady progression across different industries. She took on early roles in banking before moving into corporate finance and audit. Her path included a position at EY, where she acted as senior auditor, gaining experience in real estate, hospitality, and construction. This background provided a strong foundation for her transition into financial leadership. By age 29, she had already secured her first CFO role at Tyco International, overseeing the financial management of its Italian operations. She went on to hold leadership positions in manufacturing, telecommunications, and luxury, including Director of Finance for Italian Operations at Emerson, and then Executive Vice President of Business Support (CFO) at INWIT, where she played a key role in financial strategy and business development.

During the discussion, Silvia Ponzoni presented experiences on how strategy is at the core of the luxury business, where maintaining exclusivity and profitability commands expert management. She talked about the second-hand luxury space, and particularly in the watch space, where retailers have altered consumers' definition of long-term value. The growing relevance of resale markets has solidified the idea that luxury goods must not only be desirable but also preserve their worth over the long term. Moreover, she addressed the challenge of reconciling digital expansion with brand positioning, a challenge that continues to characterize the future of luxury retailing.

Reflecting on her professional experience, she underscored the role of finance not just as an operational function but also as a driver of corporate strategy, digital transformation, and restructuring. Financial complexity in big organizations must be overseen using a combination of technical expertise and strategic acumen, particularly in industries where branding, heritage, and financial performance are deeply intertwined. She handed in a clear picture of the competencies and the attitude required to lead through financial leadership in transforming industries, highlighting the critical link between finance, strategy, and long-term corporate value creation.

This event provided SDA Bocconi Candidates a chance to come into contact with real-life experience in financial leadership, international markets, and the strategic issues involved in handling luxury brands.

SDA Bocconi School of Management