Former Gucci ceo joins Newell Rubbermaid board

ATLANTA Newell Rubbermaid has announced that Domenico De Sole has been elected to the company's board of directors, raising the total number of directors to 12.

De Sole is chairman of Tom Ford International and was previously president and ceo of Gucci Group NV. He is lead director of Telecom Italia S.p.A. and a director of Gap Inc.

"The addition of Domenico further strengthens our board's global marketing and operations credentials," said William Marohn, Newell Rubbermaid's chairman. "We will benefit from his extensive global experience as Newell Rubbermaid continues its transformation into a company of consumer-driven brands."

De Sole's 20-year career with Gucci Group, which culminated in his assuming the president and ceo role, De Sole was instrumental in reestablishing the exclusivity and profitability of the Gucci brand. He presided over the acquisition of such luxury brands as Yves Saint Laurent, Sergio Rossi, Stella McCarthy and Balenciaga. He also led Gucci Group's listing on the New York and Amsterdam stock exchanges. 

Since 2005, De Sole has served as chairman of Tom Ford International, where he is working with renowned former Gucci designer Tom Ford to establish a global luxury menswear line.