Luca de Meo
Chief executive of Kering
Luca de Meo is the chief executive of Kering, a role he took up on 15 September 2025 after five years leading Renault Group. An Italian executive with three decades in the car industry, he was hired to revive Kering's performance, above all at Gucci.
| Role | Chief executive, Kering |
|---|---|
| Since | 15 September 2025 |
| Previous role | Chief executive, Renault Group (2020 to 2025) |
| Earlier roles | SEAT, Volkswagen Group, Fiat Group, Toyota Europe |
| Born | 1967, Milan, Italy |
| Education | Bocconi University |
Who is Luca de Meo?
Luca de Meo is an Italian business leader and, since 15 September 2025, chief executive of Kering, the luxury group behind Gucci, Saint Laurent, Bottega Veneta, Balenciaga and Alexander McQueen. Born in Milan in 1967 and a business graduate of Bocconi University, he arrived from the car industry rather than from fashion.
Career
De Meo spent around thirty years in the automotive sector. He began at Renault in the early 1990s, then worked at Toyota Europe before joining the Fiat Group, where he led the Fiat brand and later Alfa Romeo and Abarth. He moved to the Volkswagen Group in 2009 in senior marketing and sales roles, became chief executive of SEAT in 2015 and then returned to Renault Group as chief executive in 2020, where he led a widely covered turnaround.
In June 2025 Kering announced his appointment as chief executive. He took office on 15 September 2025, after a shareholder meeting on 9 September approved the new governance, with François-Henri Pinault remaining chairman of the board.
Influence on the fashion business
De Meo's appointment was one of the most discussed leadership moves in luxury in 2025. Kering had been under pressure from falling sales, especially at Gucci, and the board chose an executive with a record of restructuring large consumer brands. Trade press coverage of his early tenure has focused on several themes.
- Restoring growth and desirability at Gucci
- Simplifying the group's structure and strengthening its balance sheet
- Clear brand positioning across the portfolio
- Bringing an operational and product discipline from the car industry into luxury
His appointment also signalled a broader trend: luxury groups looking beyond fashion for leaders with experience in large-scale transformation, marketing and operations.
Luca de Meo and technology
WWD noted that at Renault de Meo became known for combining technology, design and heritage, including a strong focus on electric vehicles. That experience in managing a technology-driven industrial transition is one of the reasons commentators gave for his move to Kering, although his priorities in luxury centre on brands, product and retail.
Why it matters
De Meo leads one of the three largest luxury groups at a time of slower demand and creative change across its houses. His decisions on Gucci, portfolio focus and organisation will influence suppliers, wholesale partners and competitors, and his tenure is a test of whether management skills from other consumer industries can transfer to fashion.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Luca de Meo?
Luca de Meo is the chief executive of Kering, the luxury group that owns Gucci and Saint Laurent. He took up the role on 15 September 2025 after five years as chief executive of Renault Group.
Why did Kering hire Luca de Meo?
Kering appointed de Meo to bring a new vision and turnaround experience at a time of weak performance, particularly at Gucci. François-Henri Pinault cited his understanding of brands and his sense of corporate culture when the appointment was announced in June 2025.