Publications
Publications
- October 2024
- HBS Case Collection
Edizione
By: Cynthia A. Montgomery, Dante Roscini, Elena Corsi and Hugo Etchegoyhen
Abstract
This case study examines the diversification and transformation of Edizione, the Benetton family's holding company originally established to reinvest dividends from the Benetton clothing brand. Edizione expanded significantly in the late 1990s and early 2000s, particularly through the acquisition of public assets, including Italy's highway network. The company faced a major crisis when a bridge under its management collapsed, resulting in the deaths of 43 people. Under the leadership of Alessandro Benetton, the second generation of the family took control and steered the company through the crisis. They sold the highway business to the Italian government, successfully resisted a hostile takeover, and implemented new governance structures to guide the company's future. The case study asks students what is left of the family legacy and how should the holding manage its assets in the future, in particular if it should sell the loss-making Benetton fashion brand.
Keywords
Leadership Style; Leading Change; Leadership Development; Family Business; Family Ownership; Communication Strategy; Crisis Management; Management Style; Change Management; Asset Management; Management Succession; Private Equity; Corporate Governance; Organizational Culture; Reputation; Public Opinion; Air Transportation Industry; Fashion Industry; Transportation Industry; Travel Industry; Italy; Europe
Citation
Montgomery, Cynthia A., Dante Roscini, Elena Corsi, and Hugo Etchegoyhen. "Edizione." Harvard Business School Case 725-395, October 2024.