Piero Gandini on Balancing Design Innovation with Business Strategy at Flos B&B Italia

Piero Gandini returned as executive president of the Flos B&B Italia Group in January 2025 after a six-year absence, driven by his passion for design and a shared strategic vision. In an interview, he discusses the challenge of aligning private equity investment logic with the creative cultural identity of Italian design brands, emphasizing that companies must evolve managerially while preserving their core vision. Gandini highlights Flos's growth under his leadership, attributing success to maintaining the company's avant-garde approach and cultural responsibility. He contrasts the dynamic lighting sector, which faces continuous technological evolution, with the more static furniture industry, and calls for greater innovation and emotional impact in product design. Gandini also addresses contemporary issues like sustainability and the need for Italian design to maintain its visionary qualities while adopting flexible structures to reinforce international leadership.