Kering Names Automotive Exec as Its New CEO
Luca de Meo, a 30-year veteran of the auto industry, will succeed longtime CEO François-Henri Pinault.

Kering’s board of directors, chaired by Pinault, approved the appointment.
The Milan native has more than 30 years of experience in the automotive industry, working with several well-known companies and brands, including Renault, Toyota Europe, Fiat, Alfa Romeo, Volkswagen, and Audi.
Most recently, he served as CEO of French automaker Renault as well as CEO of Ampere, which specializes in zero-emission and software-defined vehicles. He was also president of the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association.
A shareholder meeting will be held on Sept. 9 to affirm De Meo’s appointment and approve his compensation. Subject to approval, he will take on the role of CEO on Sept. 15.
The move was initiated by Pinault, said Kering, and “marks a decisive step in the evolution of Kering's governance and strengthens the group's leadership as it enters a new phase of its development.”
Pinault will remain in his role as chairman of the board. This role will be separated from the CEO position as part of a new governance structure, said the company.
"After twenty years of transforming Kering into a major global luxury player, the group is ready for a new stage in its development,” said Pinault.
Pinault said he had begun to rethink the company’s governance in 2023 and later met 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,” said Pinault.
“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.”
Pinault took over as CEO in 2005 when the company was known as PPR, short for Pinault Printemps Redoute. The company started going by Kering in 2013, as per its website.
De Meo thanked Pinault and the board of directors for choosing him as Kering’s next leader.
“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,” said de Meo.
“I am convinced that together we will continue to make Kering an essential player in the luxury industry.”
During his five-year tenure as CEO of Renault, de Meo is credited with turning the company around, as per a Reuters report.
Kering is facing struggles of its own. While its jewelry brands, which include Boucheron and Pomellato, have performed well in recent quarters, its star brand Gucci continues to struggle and weigh on its balance sheet.
The Latest

The stone’s two zones, one pink and one colorless, may have formed at two different times, the lab said.

The New York City store showcases a chandelier with 1,500 carats of lab-grown diamonds designed by an FIT student.

The Museum of Arts and Design's new exhibition features 75 pieces by the designer, best known for her work in the “Black Panther” films.

You deserve to know what you are selling–to protect your customers as well as your business and your reputation.

Making its auction debut, "The Glowing Rose" is expected to fetch $20 million at the November jewelry sale in Geneva.


They were attacked on Oct. 15, as approximately 40 miners without licenses marched on the mine’s gate.

It took the masked thieves less than 10 minutes to steal eight irreplaceable jewels from two display cases in the museum’s Apollo Gallery.

The upcoming show provides savvy retailers with the opportunity to stock their cases with best sellers in advance of the holiday season.

Gemologist Lauren Gayda has previously worked at The Clear Cut, Taylor & Hart, and Effy Jewelry.

In 2026, the jewelry retailer will celebrate a milestone only a small percentage of family-owned businesses survive to see.

The new showcase dedicated to Italian jewelry design is set for Oct. 29-30.

Take a gaze at the sky with this pair of platinum diamond-set star earrings with blue lace agate drops.

Jeffrey Zimmer's decades of leadership at Reeds Jewelers are defined by integrity, a love of sourcing gemstones, and a heart for community.

The new high jewelry design and production process takes 30 days or less from concept to completion, the auction house said.

The brand has released a second installment of its collection of traditional and non-traditional commitment heirlooms.

Corey rescued New England chain Day’s Jewelers, preserving its legacy with strong people skills, pragmatism, and a “get-it-done” attitude.

Charles Robinson Shay was sentenced to life in prison plus 120 years while his accomplice, Michael James McCormack, got 75 years.

Timepieces at Luxury will take place at The Venetian and, like Luxury, will be invitation-only for the first two days.

The auction house named a new global head of jewelry, as well as a new head of the jewelry department for the Americas.

As chairman of Schwanke-Kasten Jewelers, Tom Dixon has been tasked with honoring the past and shaping the future of the family-run store.

Katty Villapando Lyte and Mica Rencher received a $10,000 grant for their business, Shimmer Culture LLC.

The parents of the Dallas Mavericks rookie bought their engagement ring at a Day’s store in Bangor, Maine, in 1997.

The UK-based brand sourced the gemstones, which are fully traceable, from an artisanal mining community in Tanzania.

The trio of Advent calendars include a version with 18-karat gold and lab-grown diamond jewelry in a red lacquer jewelry box.

Created in collaboration with Nymphenburg Porcelain, the lock is part of a four-piece collection that took two years to bring to fruition.

Jewelry industry veteran Alisa Bunger has taken on the role.

The company and industry leader’s two-decade tenure with De Beers will come to a close at the end of the month.