Kering appoints Cédric Charbit as CEO of Saint Laurent and Gianfranco Gianangeli as the new head of Balenciaga.
The Kering group announced significant leadership changes within its luxury brands. Cédric Charbit, CEO of Balenciaga since 2016, will assume the role of CEO of Saint Laurent starting January 2, 2024. Gianfranco Gianangeli, currently Chief Commercial Officer of Saint Laurent and former CEO of Maison Margiela, will succeed him at Balenciaga.
Charbit returns to Saint Laurent, where he previously served as Vice President of Product and Marketing before leading Balenciaga. During his tenure, he drove Balenciaga’s growth and navigated crises, such as the controversial 2022 advertising campaign. At Saint Laurent, he will face the challenge of revitalizing sales impacted by the global luxury slowdown and inflation.
Gianangeli, known for his strategic approach and expertise in merchandising, will lead Balenciaga into a new phase of global expansion and reputation strengthening.
Francesca Bellettini, Kering’s Deputy General Manager, expressed confidence in both leaders to tackle current challenges and ensure sustained growth for the brands. These appointments underscore Kering’s strategy to keep its brands at the forefront of global luxury.
With these changes, the French group aims to strengthen its leadership in an increasingly competitive market.
