More Twists & Turns to Come...
The industry-wide twists and turns continue to happen before our eyes in 2024, with this latest news coming out of global luxury group Kering, who announced that new CEOs are set to be appointed at Saint Laurent and Balenciaga.
More specifically, it was unveiled that the current – and soon to be ex – President and CEO of Balenciaga, Cédric Charbit, will be the next CEO of Saint Laurent and Gianfranco Gianangeli, who is currently the Chief Commercial Officer at Saint Laurent, as CEO of Balenciaga. Set to be effective from January 2, 2025, both will report to Francesca Bellettini, Kering Deputy CEO in charge of Brand Development.
Bellettini stated the following about the duo’s swapped appointments at Saint Laurent and Balenciaga:
“I am proud to announce the appointment of Cédric as CEO of Saint Laurent. With his profound understanding of the House and of its unique identity, Cédric is exceptionally prepared to drive the continued growth and success of Saint Laurent. Equally, I am confident that Gianfranco is the ideal leader to succeed Cédric as CEO of Balenciaga. Gianfranco’s extensive expertise and vision make him the perfect choice to further elevate the House and build on its remarkable achievements. Having had the privilege of knowing and working closely with both Cédric and Gianfranco for many years, I have no doubts they are the best choices to take the helm of Saint Laurent and Balenciaga. I am certain they will excel in their new roles, guiding their respective Houses toward even greater success.”
Additionally, François-Henri Pinault, the Chairman & CEO of Kering, said:
“These evolutions further reinforce our organisation. With Francesca Bellettini fully dedicated to her role as Kering Deputy CEO in charge of Brand Development, including the Jewelry Houses, and Jean-Marc Duplaix – whose role, as Kering Deputy CEO and Chief Operating Officer, is to ensure that all corporate departments work together efficiently and support all brands to achieve Kering’s strategic goals – we have the right leadership team in place to address current industry challenges and set the pace for long-term growth.”
PHOTO CREDIT: Kering
