Francesca Bellettini is the third new Gucci CEO in two years

On 1 January, Stefano Cantino took over as CEO of Gucci, after initially serving as Deputy CEO of the weakening Kering brand Francesca Bellettini is now taking over.

Picture left: Gucci CEO Francesca Bellettini (© Marco Cella)

Since the beginning of the year, Cantino has reported to Francesca Bellettini, Deputy CEO of the Kering Group and responsible for brand development. After just a few months, she is now taking over Cantino's CEO position at Gucci. As a result, the position of Deputy CEO of Kering has been abolished. Whether Cantino will remain with the company has not been revealed in the official Kering Group announcement.

Gucci with third CEO in two years

Following Jean-François Palus, who was appointed CEO of Gucci in July 2023, and Stefano Cantino, Francesca Bellettini is now the third new appointment to the Gucci CEO position in two years.

As the new Gucci CEO, Bellettini reports directly to Luca de Meo, who has been Kering's CEO since September 15. He succeeded majority owner François-Henri Pinault, who had been at the helm of Kering for 20 years.

Former Renault CEO de Meo unexpectedly announced his resignation from the automaker mid-year. Under his leadership, Renault had managed to return to profitability.

A similar success story is now hoped for Kering, especially for Gucci. The luxury goods group's most important brand has been attracting attention for some time with declining sales, including in the watch division, which has already seen 21 employees laid off became.

"At this crucial moment, I want to build a leaner and more streamlined organization, where the best talent will drive our houses forward. Gucci, the flagship of our group, deserves the utmost attention, and Francesca—one of the most experienced and respected experts in our industry—will bring the leadership and flawless execution needed to restore the brand to its rightful place," said Luca de Meo.

Francesca Bellettini stated: "It is a great honor for me to assume direct responsibility for Gucci, one of the world's most iconic luxury houses. I am looking forward to working under the leadership of Luca de Meo, whose innovative and fresh perspective inspires us to push boundaries. I am excited to take on this new challenge together with the entire Gucci team and alongside Demna (Editor's note: artistic director of Gucci since July 2025), whose creativity I have always admired."