EssilorLuxottica Faces Leadership Crisis After Founder's Death
EssilorLuxottica is experiencing internal conflict between operational leadership and the heirs of founder Leonardo Del Vecchio over company control.
EssilorLuxottica, the world's largest eyewear manufacturer, is embroiled in an internal leadership crisis stemming from the 2022 death of its founder, Leonardo Del Vecchio. The conflict centers on a divide between the company's operational management and its primary ownership group.
Before his death, Del Vecchio transferred operational control of the business to Francesco Milleri. However, the founder's heirs retained equal stakes in Delfin, a holding company that maintains a 32% ownership stake in EssilorLuxottica. This structure has led to a situation described as a "petty feud" between the heirs and the current leadership.
The tension highlights a struggle for influence within the organization as the heirs of the founder navigate their role as major shareholders while Milleri manages the day-to-day operations of the global eyewear giant.
