Moleskine Srl, the Milan-based brand best known for its journals and writing instruments, has made a couple of high-level promotions.
Christophe Archaimbault has been elevated to global chief executive officer of the company, succeeding Daniela Riccardi who has retired. He joined the company in 2020 as global chief commercial officer and two years later was also named managing director of Moleskine APAC and became a board member of the Moleskine Foundation.
In addition, Ward Simmons has been promoted to president of Moleskine America. Simmons, who had previously served as senior vice president of marketing for the company, succeeds Giuseppe Rizzo, who left in February to join A.T. Cross Co. as global CEO.
Archaimbault began his career at Procter & Gamble, working in Europe and China where he worked for two decades before joining the Hong Kong-based Pryde Group. In 2016, he moved to Vietnam to become CEO of Hoang Phuc International, a fashion distributor for European brands including Benetton, Kappa and Doc Martens. In 2011, he became president of Greater China and the Pacific for Diesel.
You May Also Like
“I look forward to building on Moleskine’s storied heritage while charting new creative paths,” Archaimbault said. “Moleskine is more than a notebook — it is a brand with a mission of unleashing human genius through hands on paper. As we move forward in a world where analog and digital seamlessly intertwine, my goal is to reinforce Moleskine’s role as an essential companion for artists, writers, entrepreneurs, and visionaries globally.”
He added that the company is “committed to innovation while preserving the essence of our legacy. This involves expanding our global presence, enhancing our product ecosystem, and fostering collaborations with local artists in diverse markets. Whether through new product innovations, deeper digital integration, or strategic partnerships, I see Moleskine evolving into the preferred creative tool for those shaping the future with their ideas.”
Simmons started his career at Ralph Lauren as a summer intern and over the next 14 years rose through the ranks to become director of the Madison Avenue flagship. He then joined Carolina Herrera as director of global communications and also served as vice president of marketing for Hugo Boss, the Americas. Prior to joining Moleskine in 2023, he was senior vice president of marketing, advertising, public relations and visual for Baccarat in North America.
“Moleskine is not just a notebook, it’s a symbol of creativity, organization, and self-expression,” he said. “It’s an emotional journey, a quiet place where we can write our passions, ideas, thoughts, and untold stories. Joining this heritage ‘love’ brand has been a privilege. Working alongside such creative people has been an honor. I look forward to leading Moleskine America and continuing its mission of unleashing the next generation of human genius through putting pen to paper.”
Moleskine was created in 1997 to give life to the black notebooks traditionally used by writers and artists. Since then, the company has expanded into diaries, planners, journals, bags, writing instruments, reading accessories, publishing and digital tools. It also operates 55 stores around the world.
