A graduate of Oxford University, John Hooks joined Gruppo Finanziario Tessile S.p.A. (GFT) in Turin, Italy and held positions with major licensees such as Dior, Ungaro, Armani, and other designer brands. He headed the Valentino luxury prêt-à-porter unit and was president of CIDAT (USA) from 1985 to 1988.
From 1988 to 1994, based in Hong Kong, he established GFT’s regional subsidiary companies in Japan, Korea and China, (one of the first foreign fashion joint ventures in that country). Subsequently, he headed all commercial and marketing activities for Jil Sander GmbH in Hamburg, Germany.
In 2000 he joined Giorgio Armani SpA in Milan as commercial director and eventually became deputy chairman of the Armani group. From 2011 to 2014, he was the Group President of Ralph Lauren EMEA.
From 2015 to 2020 he was a senior adviser for McKinsey & Co. and is currently an independent consultant. He has been a non-executive director on the board of Manchester United plc since 2012 and Giorgio Armani S.p.A. since 2025.