Gucci has appointed Francesca Bellettini as president and chief executive, as part of the brand’s move towards a “leaner and clearer” organisation.

Bellettini succeeds Stefano Cantino, who spent just nine months in the role.

She will report to Luca de Meo, chief executive officer of Kering, Gucci’s parent company.

Since joining Kering in 2003 as strategic planning director and associate worldwide merchandising director at Gucci, Bellettini has held a number of senior positions across the group’s brands. In 2008, she joined Bottega Veneta, becoming worldwide merchandising and communications director in 2010. She was appointed president and chief executive officer of Saint Laurent in 2013, and in 2023 was named Kering’s deputy chief executive in charge of brand development.

Bellettini began her career in London as an investment banker, and has also held positions at the Prada group and Helmut Lang.

“At this pivotal moment, I intend to build a leaner and clearer organisation in which the best talent drive our Houses forward,” said de Meo. “Gucci, as the flagship of our group, deserves the sharpest focus, and Francesca – one of the most seasoned and respected professionals in our industry – will bring the leadership and flawless execution needed to restore the brand to its rightful place.”

Earlier this week, it emerged that cyber criminals had stolen the private details of potentially millions of Balenciaga, Gucci and Alexander McQueen customers in a ransomware attack.

The stolen data includes names, email addresses, phone numbers, addresses, and the total amount spent in the luxury stores worldwide.

Kering said that no financial information, such as card details, was stolen. The company confirmed it has emailed affected customers, but has not disclosed how many were impacted or made any public statements about the incident.

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