Bang & Olufsen has appointed Gianfilippo Testa as its new chief executive. The Italian manager arrives from the fashion house Alexander McQueen and takes over after Kristian Teär left the Danish audio company in January.
The appointment was announced by Bang & Olufsen in a company statement on Wednesday, August 12, 2026. As reported by Avisen Danmark, which carried the news via the Danish news agency Ritzau, Testa steps into the role left vacant earlier this year.
Former chief executive Kristian Teär stepped down in January with immediate effect. According to the company, the move came after the board concluded that new leadership was needed. Bang & Olufsen has therefore been searching for a permanent replacement for roughly seven months.
Testa has spent his career in the luxury goods sector. Per the company statement, he has held leadership roles at the Italian fashion brands Gucci and Fendi. Since 2022 he has been chief executive of the London-based fashion house Alexander McQueen.
Bang & Olufsen states that Testa has led large commercial processes and guided other companies through periods of change. The company points to that experience as central to his appointment. No further detail on his mandate was given in the announcement.
In the statement, Testa described Bang & Olufsen as a company with a strong innovation culture. He also pointed to what he called a unique position between technology, design and craftsmanship. Per the announcement, he said he was honored to join the company.
Testa added that he looked forward to working closely 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. The statement did not include remarks from the board chair.
Relocating to Denmark
Testa is an Italian citizen and currently lives in London, according to Bang & Olufsen. The company says he will move to Denmark in connection with the new role. No relocation date or formal start date was included in the announcement as reported by Avisen Danmark.
The Bang & Olufsen brand, known for its speakers, televisions and audio design, is listed on the Copenhagen stock exchange. Company announcements of this type are published to the market before wider distribution. The appointment was released as a stock exchange notice on Wednesday morning.
Bang & Olufsen linked the timing of the change directly to its own leadership transition. The company says the process began when Teär departed in January 2026 and the board decided at that point that a new chief executive was required. No other trigger for the announcement was given in the statement.
