Azzas 2154, Brazil’s major fashion group formed by merging Arezzo&Co and Grupo Soma in 2024, is facing tough times after big changes at the top.
The company’s board picked Nicola Calicchio Neto as the new chairman, following the resignation of Pedro Parente. The board now has seven members, which is fewer than before, to make decision-making faster and improve how the company operates.
The two main owners, Alexandre Birman and Roberto Jatahy, have not always agreed on how to run the company. Birman wants to cut costs and make operations smoother. Jatahy prefers to spend more on marketing and new projects.
Both own a large part of the company—about a third together—and their disagreements have slowed down the company’s progress. Earlier this year, they even talked about splitting up the company or one buying out the other, but nothing happened.
Since the merger, Azzas 2154’s stock price dropped by more than half, showing that investors are worried. The company says it can save and earn an extra R$1.09 billion by 2027 by combining its brands and operations better.
It already made R$1.6 billion in menswear sales last year, up from R$400 million in 2019, showing some growth. But the company still struggles to get its different teams and brands to work together.
Brazil’s antitrust agency approved the merger, hoping it would make the fashion sector stronger. But the company is still figuring out how to blend its brands, avoid overlap, and make sure each one stands out.
The board’s recent changes are meant to help with these problems by making decisions faster and clearer. The main question now is whether Birman and Jatahy can put aside their differences and work together.
If they do, Azzas 2154 could become a leader in Brazil’s fashion industry. If not, the company risks missing out on the benefits of the merger. The story of Azzas 2154 is a lesson in how important leadership and teamwork are, especially after a big merger.
All details and numbers in this story come from official company statements, regulatory filings, and market data.