Kering appoints Luca de Meo as CEO

Luca de Meo has been appointed chief executive of Kering and is expected to take office on 15 September, pending shareholder approval.

The luxury group confirmed his appointment following a board meeting chaired by Kering chairman François-Henri Pinault. 

The board’s decision, based on the recommendation of the appointments and governance committee, introduces a new governance structure that separates the roles of chairman and chief executive.

Shareholders will be asked to approve de Meo’s appointment as a director and the related compensation policy at a meeting scheduled for 9 September. If approved, he will formally assume the role six days later.

Pinault said: “After 20 years of transforming Kering into a major global luxury player, the group is ready for a new stage in its development. From 2023, I launched a reflection on the evolution of the group’s governance. It was in this context that I met Luca de Meo.

“His experience at the helm of an international listed group, his sharp understanding of brands, and his sense of a strong and respectful corporate culture convinced me that he is the leader I was looking for to bring a new vision and steer this chapter in our group’s history. It is with complete confidence that I am handing over the leadership of Kering and our teams to Luca. I will of course be at his side to accompany him in this new phase, as chairman of the board of Kering.”

De Meo added: “I would like to thank François-Henri Pinault and the board of directors for choosing me to lead Kering into this new phase of development. I am approaching this new professional challenge with enthusiasm, eagerness, and confidence, inspired by the strength of the group’s brands and the expertise of its people. I am convinced that together we will continue to make Kering an essential player in the luxury industry.”