• Wall Street Journal, Thursday, October 1, 2009 10:30 AM

Giorgio Armani, the self-described "dictatorial" designer who owns 100% of Giorgio Armani SpA and is inextricably linked to the brand's image, has named John Hooks as deputy chairman, expanded the board of directors and parceled out more responsibility to non-family members, Christina Passariello reports.

Hooks, who assumes the new position in January, will take charge of brand development and commercial strategy. He has pushed Armani into China, India and other growth markets in recent years, and he will retain responsibility for foreign development.

Armani, 75, recently recovered from a bout of hepatitis. Speculation about whether his company could outlive its extremely hands-on business and creative leader was rife and the management shake-up still leaves a question mark, Passariello points out, because Armani still hasn't publicly designated a successor on either the creative or the management side.

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