Background
Diego Della Valle is the older son of Dorino Della Valle and grandson of Filippo Della Valle.
Diego Della Valle is the older son of Dorino Della Valle and grandson of Filippo Della Valle.
In his younger days, Diego studied Law in the University of Bologna, but abandoned the career and launched himself into the marketing of the family"s shoemaking business.
Filippo started his shoemaking business in the 1920s, which Diego expanded into the now famous Tod"s brand. Even during his younger days, he was business savvy. He got Agnelli, the then Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino boss, to wear Tod"s shoes when attending Juventus football matches, which were widely televised.
This product placement prompted a spike in sales.
Diego"s son, Emanuele, is also involved with the family business as the creative director Della Valle has publicly attacked Silvio Berlusconi for the over-taxing of big business and his failure to support smaller Italian business.
In return Berlusconi has talked of suing Della Valle for defamation. Della Valle sits on the board of a number of companies, such as Ferrari, Maserati, Banca Nazionale del Lavoro and Moët Hennessy — Louis Vuitton. He bought the Tuscan football club, American Car and Foundry Fiorentina, in 2002.
He owns the fashion brand Maison Schiaparelli which he is reviving.