Jean-François Palus
Former chief executive of Gucci and long-serving Kering executive
Jean-François Palus is a French executive who spent more than three decades at Kering, formerly PPR, as chief financial officer, group managing director and deputy chief executive. He is best known in fashion for stepping in as chief executive of Gucci in July 2023 to stabilise the group's largest brand, a role he handed to Stefano Cantino on 1 January 2025.
| Known for | Chief executive of Gucci, July 2023 to December 2024 |
|---|---|
| Group | Kering (formerly PPR) |
| Joined group | 1991 |
| Former roles | CFO and group managing director of PPR; chairman of Puma's board |
| Education | HEC |
| Successor at Gucci | Stefano Cantino |
Who is Jean-François Palus?
Jean-François Palus is one of the executives most closely associated with the transformation of PPR, a French retail conglomerate, into Kering, a luxury group built around Gucci, Saint Laurent, Bottega Veneta and Balenciaga. A graduate of HEC business school, he began his career as an auditor and financial adviser at Arthur Andersen before joining the group in 1991. François-Henri Pinault has described their close and constant collaboration over 30 years as invaluable.
Career
Palus served for six years as chief financial officer of PPR and in 2008 became the group's managing director, joining its board in 2009. He was also a central figure in the group's relationship with the sportswear company Puma, then majority owned by PPR: he joined Puma's supervisory board in 2007 and was elected chairman of its administrative board on 1 December 2012, succeeding Jochen Zeitz.
- Arthur Andersen: auditor and financial adviser
- PPR: joined in 1991; chief financial officer for six years
- PPR and Kering: group managing director from 2008, board member from 2009, later deputy chief executive
- Puma: chairman of the administrative board from December 2012
- Gucci: chief executive, July 2023 to December 2024
Influence on the fashion business
In July 2023 Kering announced the departure of Gucci chief executive Marco Bizzarri and appointed Palus to lead the brand on an interim basis, with a mandate to restructure the house and recruit a long term leader. In February 2024 the appointment was confirmed, with Pinault explaining that the interim label had been a precautionary measure while Gucci's needs were assessed.
Gucci's period under Palus coincided with the arrival of creative director Sabato De Sarno and a difficult market for the brand. When Kering named Stefano Cantino as Gucci's next chief executive in October 2024, the group said Palus had made the courageous decisions the house needed and built sound foundations for a renewed Gucci, including recruiting his own successor. Cantino took over on 1 January 2025.
For much of his career Palus worked in the background on finance, portfolio strategy and governance as PPR became Kering. His Gucci assignment was the most visible operational role of his career.
Why it matters
Palus embodies the role of the trusted lieutenant in a family controlled luxury group: a finance and governance specialist who can be deployed to the most critical brand at a moment of crisis. His tenure at Gucci is a reference point in the brand's attempt to reset after the end of the Alessandro Michele era.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Jean-François Palus?
Jean-François Palus is a French executive who spent more than 30 years at Kering, formerly PPR, including as chief financial officer, group managing director and deputy chief executive. He was chief executive of Gucci from July 2023 to the end of 2024.
Who replaced Jean-François Palus at Gucci?
Stefano Cantino succeeded Palus as chief executive of Gucci on 1 January 2025. Kering credited Palus with laying the foundations for a renewed Gucci and recruiting his successor.