Stefano Cantino Appointed as Gucci CEO
Kering has announced the appointment of Stefano Cantino as the new CEO of Gucci, effective January 1, 2025. Cantino, who joined Gucci as deputy CEO in May 2024, will report to Francesca Bellettini, Kering’s deputy CEO in charge of brand development. He will also join Kering’s executive committee, succeeding Jean-François Palus in the role.
Stefano Cantino brings with him extensive experience from the luxury fashion industry. Before joining Gucci, Cantino spent five years at Louis Vuitton, where he was responsible for overseeing communications and image. His career also includes a significant 20-year tenure at the Prada Group, where he advanced through various marketing and commercial roles, ultimately becoming the director of communications and marketing. Cantino’s background in Political Science from the University of Turin complements his strategic expertise in the luxury sector.
In a statement, Kering emphasized that Jean-François Palus, who was appointed CEO of Gucci in July 2023, had been instrumental in setting up the foundations for the brand’s next chapter. His key responsibilities included recruiting essential talents, including his successor, to steer the company forward.
Francesca Bellettini expressed her gratitude towards Palus, stating: “I am deeply grateful to Jean-François for his dedication and loyalty to Gucci over this transitional period. I am confident that, building on what has been set up over the past 15 months, Stefano and the Gucci team will succeed in the mission to take Gucci back to the leadership the brand deserves.”
François-Henri Pinault, Chairman and CEO of Kering, also acknowledged Palus’s contributions, highlighting the crucial decisions he made during a challenging time for the brand. “Over a particularly challenging period, Jean-François made the courageous decisions the House needed and built sound foundations for a renewed Gucci to flourish again under the stewardship of Stefano. I also want to acknowledge Jean-François’s close and constant collaboration with me over the past 30 years, which has been truly invaluable,” Pinault added.
With Cantino’s appointment, Kering aims to reinvigorate Gucci and restore its position as a leader in the luxury fashion market. The company looks forward to leveraging his extensive experience and expertise to guide Gucci into its next era of growth and innovation.