Co-founder of Guess steps down after 42 years

Global denim brand, Guess, has announced that its Co-founder Maurice Marciano has retired from the company’s board of directors, effective immediately.

After leaving Marseille for the American dream, 73-year-old Maurice Marciano co-founded Guess in 1981 along with his brothers Paul, Georges and Armand. Guess's first big hit was the Marilyn jeans with three zippers: one at the fly and one at each ankle.

He has continued to serve as a leader of the company for over 40 years. During that time, he helped oversee Guess’ evolution from a small family business and denim pioneer into a global lifestyle brand.

Maurice Marciano, commented: "My brothers and I founded Guess based on a vision to create an iconic lifestyle brand that consumers around the globe would love.

"Today, I’m proud to say that we have turned that vision into a reality, in what has been an incredibly fulfilling journey for me personally. As the second largest shareholder of Guess, I’m grateful to the Board, to Paul, and to Carlos and the entire Guess family for their partnership and commitment to our brand, and I’m confident that the Company is well positioned to continue its success long into the future."

Maurice Marciano

Alex Yemenidjian, Chairman of the Board, said: "Maurice is a true visionary of Guess and an industry giant. His early idea to manufacture designer jeans helped revolutionize the way customers connect with denim, and transformed Guess into a global company that now does business in over 100 countries.

"On behalf of our Board and our management team, I want to thank Maurice for his contributions and commitment to Guess and to recognize the incredible impact he has had on the fashion industry. We wish Maurice the very best and know that his legacy will continue on for many generations to come."

Despite the Marciano family's helm at Guess, their time at the company did not come without its fair trials and tribulations. In February 2022, activist shareholder Legion Partners Asset Management called for the removal of both Maurice and Paul Marciano from the company’s board of directors amid a slew of sexual assault allegations against Paul. Despite the scandal coming to light, the board ultimately made the decision to re-elect Maurice and Paul in April 2022.