Luxury fashion's The Prada Group has named Cristina de Dona to the newly created global role of group general counsel.  In this capacity, she will oversee the supervision, development and consolidation of all the company's legal, intellectual property and corporate affairs, and will report to Prada's chief executive officers Miuccia Prada Bianchi and Patrizio Bertelli.

Commenting on her appointment, de Dona said, "I could not be more excited about the opportunity to lead Prada’s global legal organization, to work with a visionary family and their leadership team, and to contribute to one of the most admired and beloved companies in the world as it continues to build on its many strengths and transforms for the future."

With more than 21 years of international corporate experience, de Dona has held national and international roles at both the governmental and private level. Most recently, she was international chief counsel at The Hershey Company International. Previously she was deputy general counsel at Ferrero, and chief of staff for the Italian Ministry of Justice.

According to de Dona, her accomplishments as inside counsel include delivery of 'successful advocacy strategies in the EU, US, Asia and in key global markets,' as well as 'helping global corporates and financial service companies adapt to and flourish in changing market conditions.'  She noted that during her career she has overseen teams of up to 40 professionals with budgets of more than $11 million and been lead on corporate transactions in more than 15 countries.

Prada owns some of the world’s most prestigious luxury brands including Miu Miu, Church's, Car Shoe and Pasticceria Marchesi, and designs, manufactures and distributes ready-to-wear collections, leather goods and footwear in more than 70 countries through a network of 635 stores as well as e-commerce channels, selected e-tailers and department stores around the world. The group, which also operates in the eyewear and fragrances sector through licensing agreements, has 23 owned factories and more than 13,000 employees.