Bang & Olufsen has appointed Gianfilippo Testa as its new chief executive. The Italian executive joins the Danish audio company from fashion house Alexander McQueen.
The company confirmed the appointment in a stock exchange announcement on Wednesday, DR reports. Testa takes over from Kristian Teär, who stepped down in January with immediate effect after the board decided that new leadership was needed.
According to the company announcement, distributed via GlobeNewswire and published by the Manila Times, Testa’s appointment takes effect on August 13, 2026. The same announcement presents a broader new executive leadership team at the Struer-based group.
Testa has held leadership roles at luxury brands including Gucci and Fendi. Since 2022 he has been chief executive of Alexander McQueen. Bang & Olufsen states that he has led major commercial processes and guided other companies through periods of change.
Testa is an Italian citizen and currently lives in London. Bang & Olufsen says he will move to Denmark. In the announcement, he describes the company as having a strong innovation culture and a unique position between technology, design and craftsmanship.
He adds that he is honored to join the company and looks forward to working with the board, management, employees, partners and customers worldwide. His stated aim is to build on those strengths and realize the company’s full potential.
Wendelboe takes on second role
Chief financial officer Nikolaj Wendelboe has held overall responsibility at Bang & Olufsen since Teär left the post. Going forward, he will also serve as chief operating officer while remaining finance chief.
The company announcement also names Jesper Hessel as chief commercial officer and deputy chief executive. Per the announcement, he will take up the role once he has completed obligations to his current employer.
Bang & Olufsen’s investor relations pages list the earlier announcement, dated January 7, 2026, that Teär had stepped down and that Wendelboe was taking over on an interim basis. Wendelboe’s management profile identifies him as interim chief executive and chief financial officer.
The appointment therefore completes a leadership transition that has run for seven months. The company’s announcement archive sets out both stages of that process, from January’s interim arrangement to Wednesday’s permanent appointment.
The change comes as the audio maker, which Bang & Olufsen marked its centenary under, continues to reshape its senior management. Wednesday’s announcement did not include financial results or guidance.
Bang & Olufsen is listed on Nasdaq Copenhagen. The company did not state the length of Testa’s contract in the announcement, and no figures on his remuneration were disclosed. Discussion of CEO pay in Denmark is set out separately in the company’s annual reporting.
