Dive Brief:
- Kering has named Laurent Claquin to the newly created role of group chief brand officer, according to a Thursday press release emailed to Fashion Dive. The position is effective July 1.
- Claquin, who will now also join Kering’s executive committee, has been with the company since 2005, per the release. In 2012, he became president of Kering Americas, and has held multiple executive roles at the company including senior vice president of communications and head of corporate social responsibilities. From 2017 to 2018, he was CEO of the company’s Tomas Maier brand, which Kering shut down in June 2018.
- The company said in its release that the role was created in order to “enhance the appeal of Kering’s corporate brand as well as increase its visibility and influence.” Claquin will report to Jean-Marc Duplaix, deputy CEO of Kering in charge of operations and finance.
Dive Insight:
Kering has faced significant challenges in the luxury sector over the past year. In April, the company projected up to a 45% decline in recurring operating income for the first half of 2024, after posting a Q1 revenue decline of 11%. The decline was in line with the company’s previous earnings downturn in the fourth quarter of 2023, when revenue was down 8% at each of its fashion houses.
Claquin will now take on the task of reinvigorating Kering’s brand image.
To that end, the company said in its release that his job would require “consistent messaging across all touchpoints” and that Claquin’s “responsibility will be to define and coordinate Kering’s communications, both externally and internally, across all regions, following a unified editorial calendar and strategy.”
“Additionally, Laurent Claquin will support the Houses by amplifying their communications efforts when appropriate, and by developing high-profile events that bolster their initiatives,” the company stated.
Kering has been shuffling several roles over the past year, particularly at its largest brand, Gucci.
In April, the company appointed Stefano Cantino as deputy CEO of Gucci and brought back Alessio Vannetti as Gucci’s chief brand officer in September 2023. Vannetti had previously been with Valentino, a company Kering acquired a 30% stake in last year. Sabato de Sarno began as Gucci’s creative director in January 2023, and his predecessor, Alessandro Michele, became creative director of Valentino in March of this year.
Meanwhile, Kering hired Armelle Poulou to be CFO in July 2023, and in October it named Seán McGirr creative director of Alexander McQueen following the departure of Sarah Burton, who exited the brand after 27 years.
Kering is expected to report first half earnings on July 23.
