Former president Claudio Luti’s exit called for a new appointment
Having skipped the 2020 edition due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, the Salone del Mobile in Milan is on track hold the fair from September 5 to 10, 2021. Earlier this year in April, its longtime president, Claudio Luti, resigned in April over the scaled-back size of the 2021 furniture fair. This week, the organisers announced that Maria Porro will take over as the new president of the fair. She has previously served as the president of the Assarredo, the Italian trade association responsible for advocating for furniture, kitchen, bed, and other manufacturers. Porro, 38, who belongs to the well-known family behind the Porro design brand, will oversee this year’s “Supersalone” in Milan, a condensed show within a “village-like” setting that will do away with the previousl format of individual booths for exhibitors.
“I grew up with the Salone del Mobile,” said Porro, who is the marketing and communications director at the storied Italian brand Porro S.p.A. n announcement. “When I was a kid, my grandfather Carlo used to take me along to the pavilions at the old venue. I followed when the Fair moved to its new site in Rho, and I was thrilled to be able to attend the Shanghai Furniture Fair. Today, I am honoured to take on this role at such a vital and transformative time. I’d like to thank everyone who supported me. I hope to prove myself worthy of this event and its fabulous, successful heritage. I and the entire Board of Directors will be working to ensure that, as a unique and indispensable design showcase, the Salone rises to meet future challenges regarding sustainability, digitalisation, research, innovation, creativity and inclusiveness, as ever maintaining the highest quality.”
Porro continues to be involved in her family business, working alongside her father Lorenzo Porro and architect Piero Lissoni on style-led research, developing new products, and being part of the firm’s Salone del Mobile presence.
Photo credit: Giovanni Gastel
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