François-Henri Pinault to Remain Chairman as Luca de Meo Takes the Helm as Kering CEO in September 2025

François-Henri Pinault to Remain Chairman as Luca de Meo Takes the Helm as Kering CEO in September 2025

(IN BRIEF) Kering’s Supervisory Board, under Chairman François-Henri Pinault, has approved Luca de Meo as the Group’s next CEO, effective 15 September 2025 pending shareholder ratification. Concurrently, Chief Operating Officer Dr. Daniel Heymann’s contract has been extended until May 2029. The reorganization, which splits the Chairman and CEO offices, aligns Kering with corporate best practices as it embarks on fresh strategic initiatives. Pinault praised de Meo’s leadership credentials and brand expertise, while de Meo expressed enthusiasm for guiding Kering’s luxury Houses into their next growth phase.

(PRESS RELEASE) PARIS, 17-Jun-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — The Kering Board of Directors, led by Chairman François-Henri Pinault, has unanimously agreed to appoint Luca de Meo as Chief Executive Officer, extending the Group’s executive leadership into a new era. Under this refreshed governance model—separating the roles of Chairman and CEO in line with best practices—the Board and Dr. Heymann have mutually extended his contract as COO through May 2029, while Luca de Meo’s mandate will begin on 15 September 2025, subject to shareholder approval at the 9 September 2025 Annual General Meeting.

François-Henri Pinault commented, “After two decades of guiding Kering’s ascent to global luxury leadership, we are ready for the next chapter. Since 2023, I’ve been reflecting on how to evolve our governance, and in Luca I found the visionary leader our Houses need. His proven track record at the helm of international listed companies, his brand acumen and his commitment to a strong, values-driven culture convinced me he is perfectly suited to steer Kering forward. As Chairman, I will continue to support him and our teams through this transition.”

Luca de Meo added, “I am honored by the Board’s confidence and eager to lead Kering into its next phase. Drawing on the creativity of our Houses and the expertise within this Group, I look forward to working with every colleague to reinforce Kering’s position as an essential force in luxury.”

About Luca de Meo 

With 30 years of experience in the automotive industry, Luca de Meo was born in Milan, Italy, in 1967. He holds a degree in business administration from the Università Commerciale Luigi Bocconi di Milano and was named Bocconi Alumnus of the Year in 2017. He began his career at Renault in 1992 before joining Toyota Europe. He then joined the Fiat Group, where he held the positions of Director of the Lancia, Fiat and Alfa Romeo divisions, CEO of Abarth and Marketing Director of the Fiat Group. In 2009, he joined the Volkswagen Group as Group and Volkswagen Brand Marketing Director. In 2012, he was appointed member of the Management Board responsible for Sales and Marketing at AUDI AG. From November 2015 to January 2020, he was President of SEAT and CUPRA, a member of the supervisory boards of Ducati and Lamborghini, and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Volkswagen Group in Spain. Since July 2020, Luca de Meo has been CEO of the Renault Group and, since January 2021, a member of the Group’s Management Board. From January 2021 to February 2023, he also served as CEO of the Renault brand. From January 2023 to December 2024, he was President of the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA). From November 2023 to March 2025, he also served as CEO of Ampere, the European leader in zero-emission and software-defined vehicles. From April 2021 to October 2022, he was a member of the Board of Directors of TIM (Telecom Italia).

About Kering

Kering is a global, family-led luxury group, home to people whose passion and expertise nurture creative Houses across ready-to-wear and couture, leather goods, jewelry, eyewear and beauty: Gucci, Saint Laurent, Bottega Veneta, Balenciaga, McQueen, Brioni, Boucheron, Pomellato, Dodo, Qeelin, Ginori 1735, as well as Kering Eyewear and Kering Beauté. Inspired by their creative heritage, Kering’s Houses design and craft exceptional products and experiences that reflect the Group’s commitment to excellence, sustainability and culture. This vision is expressed in our signature: Creativity is our Legacy. In 2024, Kering employed 47,000 people and generated revenue of €17.2 billion.

Contacts
Press     
Laurent Claquin     +33 (0)6 85 43 45 99    laurent.claquin@kering.com
Paul Michon        +33 (0)6 19 21 24 88    paul.michon@kering.com
Anne Meaux / Image 7     +33 (0)6 89 87 61 76    ameaux@image7.fr

Analysts/investors    
Claire Roblet  +33 (0)1 45 64 61 49  claire.roblet@kering.com
Aurélie Husson-Dumoutier   +33 (0)1 45 64 60 45    aurelie.husson-dumoutier@kering.com

SOURCE: Kering