From light to furniture
Orbital Design Collective appoints former Flos CEO Matteo Luoni
A strategic shift needs a face. Orbital Design Collective – known as Calligaris Group until 2023 – has appointed a new CEO. And he does not come from within, but from a heavyweight neighbor in design: Flos.
Matteo Luoni takes over the role, succeeding Alexander Zschokke, who had held the position since 2023. Luoni brings the kind of profile currently in demand in Milan: strategy, M&A, brand positioning. Most recently, he held a top executive role at Flos, including serving as CEO. Before that, he was responsible for strategy, business development and acquisitions within Design Holding. A stint as Executive Vice Chairman at Arclinea adds further depth.
The mission is clearly defined. Luoni is expected to lead the company into a “new phase of development” and sharpen its positioning in key markets. In other words: more focus, more impact, more relevance in a highly competitive global landscape.
That an external impulse was needed comes as little surprise. The group has been restructuring itself in recent years. In 2023, it rebranded as Orbital Design Collective. At the same time, the heritage brand Calligaris moved into its own space in Milan. The break with the past is deliberate – at least from a communication standpoint.
At its core, however, the DNA runs deep. Founded in 1923 as a craft workshop in Manzano, Calligaris has evolved into a multi-brand platform. Today, the portfolio includes Calligaris, Ditre Italia and Luceplan. The offering is complemented by newer labels such as Connubia and Fatboy – the latter acquired in 2021.
Behind the scenes, Alpha Private Equity has been shaping the group since 2018. That also explains the current focus: refining the portfolio, structuring growth and keeping strategic options open.
A strategic shift needs a face. Orbital Design Collective – known as Calligaris Group until 2023 – has appointed a new CEO. And he does not come from within, but from a heavyweight neighbor in design: Flos.
Matteo Luoni takes over the role, succeeding Alexander Zschokke, who had held the position since 2023. Luoni brings the kind of profile currently in demand in Milan: strategy, M&A, brand positioning. Most recently, he held a top executive role at Flos, including serving as CEO. Before that, he was responsible for strategy, business development and acquisitions within Design Holding. A stint as Executive Vice Chairman at Arclinea adds further depth.
The mission is clearly defined. Luoni is expected to lead the company into a “new phase of development” and sharpen its positioning in key markets. In other words: more focus, more impact, more relevance in a highly competitive global landscape.
That an external impulse was needed comes as little surprise. The group has been restructuring itself in recent years. In 2023, it rebranded as Orbital Design Collective. At the same time, the heritage brand Calligaris moved into its own space in Milan. The break with the past is deliberate – at least from a communication standpoint.
At its core, however, the DNA runs deep. Founded in 1923 as a craft workshop in Manzano, Calligaris has evolved into a multi-brand platform. Today, the portfolio includes Calligaris, Ditre Italia and Luceplan. The offering is complemented by newer labels such as Connubia and Fatboy – the latter acquired in 2021.
Behind the scenes, Alpha Private Equity has been shaping the group since 2018. That also explains the current focus: refining the portfolio, structuring growth and keeping strategic options open.