Valentino names Masumi Shinohara as CEO Japan and Korea

By

Robin Driver

Published
May 8, 2021

Italian luxury company Valentino has announced the appointment of industry veteran Masumi Shinohara as the new CEO of its businesses in Japan and Korea, effective May 1, 2021. 
 

In his new role, Shinohara will lead the expansion of Valentino’s operations in both countries and will be charged with the mission of boosting the brand’s presence and visibility. To do so, he will be expected to both strengthen existing relationships with department store chains and discover new opportunities.
 
According to the company, which is owned by Qatari investment fund Mayhoola, his responsibilities will also include driving “digital projects, innovative strategies and high-performing strategies.”

The executive will report to Valentino’s chief commercial officer, Marco Giacometti, and will oversee the implementation of the company’s new strategy at a regional level, refocusing operations around “client and colleague centricity” and striving for “retail excellence.”
 
Shinohara joins Valentino from Ermenegildo Zegna, where he has served as president and representative director of Zegna Japan since November 2019. His previous experience in the fashion and luxury industries also includes a six-year period at LVMH, where he served in a series of roles of increasing responsibility at Berluti Japan, ultimately becoming president, CEO and representative director.
 
Prior to this, the executive, who holds a BA from Tokyo’s Keio University and an MBA from IMD Business School, spent over four years at L’Oréal. Here he worked as part of the luxury product division in Paris and then in Hong Kong, overseeing travel retail for Japan and Korea.
 
Shinohara’s appointment reflects Valentino’s wider efforts to strengthen its position in Asia and hints at bigger plans for the future. His arrival at the company follows the appointment of Mitchell Bacha as CEO of Greater China in April. Previously, all of Valentino’s Asia Pacific region had been overseen by Oliver Yang since 2008.