Andre Vilaca has extensive experience in business transformation and value creation. In his role as Operations Director at Njord Partners, Andre has been instrumental in driving growth and operational excellence across portfolio companies, including SolidAl and euroAtlantic Airways, and has been involved with Il Lanificio and its previous shareholder, Lanificio Cerruti, since 2019. His expertise in strategic leadership and operational excellence positions him well to lead Il Lanificio into its next phase of international growth. 

Filippo Vadda, who has served as CEO since 2022, will be stepping down from his role to pursue new opportunities. Under his leadership, Il Lanificio has experienced remarkable growth, including the opening of flagship stores in Amsterdam, Fidenza, and other key European locations.

Luigi Pescetto, founder of Il Lanificio, will transition to the role of Chief Experience Officer,  where he will focus on preserving the brand’s commitment to excellence in product quality, customer experience, and heritage, while supporting its ambitious growth strategy.

Since it was acquired by Njord Partners in 2018, Il Lanificio has successfully delivered on its ambitious growth plans, tripling the number of stores and increasing revenue by 110%. With flagship stores established in key European cities such as Amsterdam, Milan and Rome,  the company has solidified its reputation as a leader in the casual-chic and formalwear markets, offering unparalleled craftsmanship and value for money.

Il Lanificio is poised to accelerate its growth strategy, with plans to expand its footprint across Europe and enhance its online presence. In the coming weeks, the brand will debut on Europe’s leading e-commerce platform, marking a significant step forward in its digital transformation and customer reach.

Andre Vilaca, CEO of Il Lanificio, commented:

“I am honored to take on this role at the company. The brand’s commitment to Italian quality and its ambitious international vision resonate deeply with me. I look forward to building on the company’s strong foundation and leading the company into new markets while continuing to deliver high quality products, made from the best fabrics to our loyal customers worldwide.”

Arvid Trolle, Partner at Njord Partners, added:

“We are very pleased to welcome Andre as the new CEO of Il Lanificio. We would like to thank Filippo for his leadership over the past few years, which has been key to Il Lanificio’s remarkable performance and expansion. We wish him all the best in his future endeavors and are confident that Andre will build on this success, driving the brand’s continued growth across Europe and beyond.”