Early Life
Claudio Del Vecchio was born in 1957 in Borgo Valsugana, Italy. He is the eldest son of Leonardo Del Vecchio and Luciana Nervo. Growing up, he was one of six children. His father, Leonardo Del Vecchio, founded Luxottica, which began as a small workshop producing eyeglass components.
Rise to Success
In 1982, Claudio moved to New York City to lead Luxottica's North American operations. He spearheaded the company's entry into the U.S. market and was instrumental in its growth. He became co-CEO of Luxottica in the 1990s and took the company public on the New York Stock Exchange in 1990. Under his leadership, Luxottica acquired LensCrafters in 1995. After leaving Luxottica in 1998, Del Vecchio acquired and revitalized Casual Corner before acquiring Brooks Brothers in 2001.
Key Business Strategies
At Luxottica, Del Vecchio focused on building distribution networks and adapting to the local eyewear industry. He oversaw the acquisition of LensCrafters, which solidified Luxottica's position. When he took over Brooks Brothers, he focused on its heritage by rolling out new suits, revitalizing made-to-order services, and upgrading fabrics.
Philanthropy
Claudio and Debra Del Vecchio have been involved in philanthropic efforts, supporting organizations such as St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Helen Keller Services for the Blind, and others.