Electrolux appoints chief design officer

Appliance maker Electrolux has hired Stefano Marzano as its chief design officer, a new role at the company. Marzano will lead all design-related competencies in the various business groups.

Marzano, age 62, had a long career at Royal Philips Electronics, working for 20 years as its chief design officer. Until 1998 he was a professor at the Domus Academy in Milan, and also served as a visiting professor at Politecnico did Milano, the polytechnic institute in Milan. Marzano is also the author and editor of several books on design.

"Stefano Marzano is one of the most regarded and prominent design leaders in business today, and I am both pleased and proud to have him on my team,” said  Keith McLoughlin, president and CEO of Electrolux. “Appointing the first chief design officer in the group’s history proves the priority Electrolux gives to design as a core function in innovation together with R&D and marketing. Electrolux has come very far in the transition from a manufacturing-driven company to a modern consumer insight-driven company. Mr. Marzano’s experience and well-documented creativity will further enhance this development."

Electrolux has seven design centers around the world. The design center hub is in Stockholm, Sweden, co-located with other group functions. Other industrial design centers are in North America, Brazil, Italy, Singapore and Australia.

Henrik Otto, senior VP of global design, will remain in his current role and report to Marzano.

Electrolux manufactures household appliances and appliances for professional use, selling more than 40 million products to customers in more than 150 markets every year.. Electrolux products include refrigerators, dishwashers, washing machines, cookers, air-conditioners and small appliances such as vacuum cleaners sold under  brands like Electrolux, AEG, Eureka and Frigidaire.