Karl Heinz Salzburger

“ Today more than ever, I believe in the diversity of people. Their individuality, talent, and motivations are the true fuel for success.”

Karl Heinz Salzburger has over 30 years of experience in managing Sporting Goods, Outdoor, and Lifestyle Companies.  

His main highlights include experience at Benetton Sportsystem S P A, from 1990 to 1997, which included Brands like Nordica, Kastle, Prince, Rollerblade and others, where he held several positions including responsibilities for the Benetton Sportsystemsubsidiaries. In 1997 he was appointed Chief Executive Officer of The North Face Europe and thereafter he was appointed President of The North Face Inc. in San Francisco, where he stayed until the end of 2000. After the sale of The North Face to VF in May 2000, upon to his return to Europe in January 2001, Karl Heinz was appointed President for the International Outdoor Coalition and thereafter in 2006, President of VF International, which includes the responsibility for all VF brands in Europe, Middle East and Asia.

From 2010 until 2017 he has also been Group President of VF Corporation, a group leader in apparel, jeanswear, sportswear, outdoor products, and which owns among others the following brands The North Face, Vans, Timberland, Lee, Wrangler, Jansport, Eastpak, Napapijri and 7 For All Mankind.

He was appointed Director of Luxottica Group S.p.A. on April 24, 2015 and served as a Director until April 2020.

Karlheinz was born in Balzano, Italy and speaks Italian, English, and German.