MILAN, ITALY // On his arrival at Gucci in 2008, Robert quickly established what is today one of the sector's most sophisticated integrated global marketing and communications organizations.

As he was putting this new organization into place, he was simultaneously working with the company's newly appointed executive management team on the development of a brand strategy for Gucci, taking into account the evolving habits and desires of luxury consumers in both mature and more dynamic markets, against the backdrop of the world financial crisis of 2008.

Gucci's "Forever Now" brand strategy was conceived in 2009 to capitalize on the brand's unique duality of heritage and fashion authority, supported by a comprehensive program of marketing and communications activities aimed at reinforcing the brand's core long lasting values of Fashion Leadership, Italian Craftsmanship and Social Responsibility.

Before joining Gucci, Robert had been Executive Vice President, Worldwide Communications at Giorgio Armani S.p.A., prior to which he was Senior Vice President of Worldwide Communications for Calvin Klein Inc.

British by nationality, Robert originally arrived in the United States from the UK in 1992 to take on the role of Vice President of Communications for The Body Shop International, the skin and hair care retailer. Following the company's decision to relocate its US operations to Wake Forest, NC, he moved to become Associate Director of Ketchum Communications' New York office.

In the United Kingdom, Robert had been Marketing Manager of The Observer and Today newspapers before establishing his own marketing and communications agency, Timms Triefus Maddick. He joined The Body Shop International in 1990 as General Manager of International Communications based at the company's worldwide headquarters in Littlehampton, Sussex before relocating to New York in 1992.