Ventranet
About Rosario
Rosario Toscano is CEO and co-founder of AKN Group, a luxury eyewear group founded in Switzerland in 2019 and based in Lugano. It started out as Akoni Group and now brings together four brands: its own label Akoni, Balmain Eyewear, the Swiss frame maker Götti Switzerland and the lens specialist Eyetech. AKN bought Götti and Eyetech in 2025. Akoni and Balmain frames are made in Japan.
Toscano has worked in eyewear for more than 20 years. He trained as an optician and holds an MBA from Trinity College Dublin. Before starting his own company he was Global Managing Director of Dita Eyewear and created eyewear for the designer Thom Browne.
In 2020 he launched Balmain's eyewear line with creative director Olivier Rousteing. He planned it as a selective line from the start, for no more than 2,000 stores worldwide.
