Luca de Meo Appointed CEO of Kering Group
Luca de Meo has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of Kering, signaling a new chapter for the group and for its growing eyewear division.
The announcement was made following the recommendation of Kering’s Appointments and Governance Committee and personally championed by François-Henri Pinault, who will remain as Chairman of the Board.
The leadership shift will take effect on September 15, 2025, after the company’s Shareholder Meeting, scheduled for September 9.
This pivotal decision introduces a refreshed governance model: the separation of CEO and Chairman roles. It aligns Kering with the most progressive corporate standards while reinforcing its ambition to remain agile and forward-thinking. For Kering Eyewear, this change marks a strategic pivot with far-reaching implications for brand development, licensing, and global distribution.
Why Luca de Meo?
Luca de Meo brings with him over three decades of high-level experience in brand strategy and global leadership, having held executive roles at Renault, Audi, Fiat, SEAT, and CUPRA. Born in Milan and educated at Bocconi University, de Meo’s career has been a study in transformational thinking and visionary brand positioning. His time leading the Renault Group, including its electric vehicle arm Ampere, showcased his ability to align technological innovation with market momentum.
“I am approaching this new professional challenge with enthusiasm and confidence. Inspired by the strength of the Group’s brands and the expertise of its people, I’m convinced we will continue to make Kering an essential player in the luxury industry.”
His appointment is more than symbolic—it is a calculated move to inject energy and external perspective into Kering’s portfolio. For Kering Eyewear, his understanding of design, user experience, and industrial process will be instrumental in elevating the eyewear segment’s global standing.
Implications for Kering Eyewear
While fashion houses like Gucci and Saint Laurent often steal the spotlight, Kering Eyewear has quietly become one of the group’s fastest-growing pillars. This leadership transition places Kering Eyewear in a unique position to benefit from de Meo’s product-savvy and operational expertise.
Expect to see sharper brand integration across Kering’s eyewear licenses, elevated storytelling, and increased synergy between design and retail. With Luca de Meo at the helm, the group’s eyewear division is likely to gain not only visibility, but stronger market positioning in both optical and sun categories.
“Luca’s experience at the helm of international brands and his sharp understanding of identity and culture make him the leader we need to write the next chapter of Kering. I am confident that his vision will further unlock the potential of all our divisions, including Kering Eyewear.”
From Automobiles to Accessories: A Leader with Range
The career of Luca de Meo spans more than just corporate milestones—it’s defined by bold brand reinventions. From revitalizing Fiat and SEAT to advancing Renault’s electric strategy, de Meo has consistently shown how legacy and innovation can coexist.
Now, Luca de Meo enters the world of luxury with the same forward momentum. His background in performance branding, sustainability, and design-driven leadership makes him uniquely equipped to guide a creative powerhouse like Kering—and its subsidiaries such as Kering Eyewear—into a future where luxury must do more than look good: it must perform, adapt, and endure.
Stay tuned as TEF Magazine continues to report on the evolving leadership landscape shaping independent and luxury eyewear.
About Kering Eyewear
Kering Eyewear is an Italian eyewear conglomerate that specializes in the development, production, and distribution of high-end optical and sun frames for a curated selection of iconic fashion houses. Founded in 2014 by Roberto Vedovotto as part of the global luxury group Kering, the brand manages eyewear lines for maisons such as Gucci, Saint Laurent, Bottega Veneta, Balenciaga, and Cartier (via a joint venture with Richemont). It is the first company to bring eyewear fully in-house within a luxury group, establishing a new benchmark in how fashion eyewear is built and distributed.
What sets Kering Eyewear apart is its vertical integration and maison-focused approach. Rather than following the traditional license model, the company handles every stage—from creative design to prototyping and global distribution—under one roof in Padua, Italy.
This unique structure allows each collection to remain fully aligned with the parent fashion house, resulting in eyewear that feels like a natural extension of the brand’s DNA. Close collaboration with artistic directors ensures authenticity, while advanced R&D facilities and in-house prototyping deliver speed, consistency, and technical precision.
Kering Eyewear continues to push boundaries through strategic innovation, most recently by partnering with Google to develop AI-enhanced smart glasses. This venture into extended reality represents the next step in its evolution, merging high fashion with next-generation technology. With a commitment to creativity, precision, and innovation, Kering Eyewear is shaping the future of the luxury eyewear industry from within.
Read more about this brand on TEF Magazine or visit their website.
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