As the main driver behind Malta’s most successful fashion house, Dizz Group Chief Executive Officer Diane Izzo runs an empire of luxury and fast-fashion brands.

She has always been fascinated by fashion and business. So, when the chance to combine the two and open a fashion business presented itself, it was the obvious path for her and, by the age of 19, she had set up her own company.

“I clearly remember being on holiday with my husband-to-be, Karl, and coming across the now-renowned clothing brand Terranova,” she recalls with a smile. “It was relatively unknown then but I instantly saw its potential and, after a number of trips to Italy to learn more about it, we opened our first shop here. That was the very start of Dizz Group.”

Hers is a company that has expanded on an incredible upward trajectory, as the Group evolved from a simple start-up to the dynamic plc it is today. So many highlights stand out in Diane’s mind, including the company’s successful €8 million and €7.5 million bond issues –both oversubscribed – as well as Dizz’s first day of trading on the Malta Stock Exchange last year.

“We began trading with just one brand and, today, have grown to become the largest fashion house on the island,” Diane recalls, explaining that the line-up now includes Calliope, Liu Jo, Brooks Brothers, Guess, Paul & Shark, Trussardi, Max & Co., Harmont & Blaine, Goldenpoint, Elisabetta Franchi, Michael Kors, Napapijri, Pinko and more.

“We’ve also diversified recently, which I am very excited about,” Diane continues. “We have moved into the property and catering sectors, opening several cafés under the Pascucci franchise.

It’s been a whirlwind journey for the CEO but Diane says she is very proud and grateful for what has been achieved so far. “To succeed in business today you have to be flexible, organised and good at planning,” she asserts. “Ours certainly hasn’t been an easy ride but we always did our utmost to improve day on day.”

Consistency, she insists, is a key component of success, as is efficiency. “If you’re focused on that, then you will create long-term, positive habits that will help you to be successful in the long run.”

She absolutely loves her role as CEO, particularly meeting people on a daily basis and working with her team of dedicated employees.

Diane underlines that, as a forward-thinking CEO, she is constantly seeking out and filtering opportunities to strengthen her business. “Saying no is a challenge,” she quips. “But I have to because if an opportunity doesn’t meet our criteria, then we have to say no.”

Diane is known for her hands-on approach and she gets involved across all the sectors of the Group, even today. “Of course, in doing so, I have the support of my management team, which is crucial and indispensable when it comes to us reaching our goals,” she continues. “I consider that leadership, confidence, communication, learning, negotiation and strong management have stood us in good stead as a collective, and contributed to our success.”

Last year, Diane and her team dedicated their time and energy to the D Shopping Mall being developed by the Group. “We have developed the indoor football pitches at the Sliema Wanderers training grounds, near The Point, into another shopping mall. On top of that, we have also managed other new store openings. It was a year of consolidation.”

Being keen on corporate social responsibility-related initiatives, she proudly points out that all of the Group’s fashion brands have sustainable collections within them, featuring pieces made from recyclable items, and with others supporting the environment in one way or another.”

This is a serialisation of the publication Malta CEOs 2020. All interviews took place prior to the COVID-19 outbreak.