Francesca Bellettini

Spear's Review

Kering deputy CEO Francesca Bellettini, the investment banker turned fashion world power player, has become the favourite among certain members of the fashion world cognoscenti to replace French billionaire François-Henri Pinault when he chooses to relinquish the helm of his family-owned luxury retail empire.

After starting her career in London as an investment banker at Goldman Sachs, Deutsche Morgan Grenfell and Compass Partners International, Bellettini entered the fashion industry more than 20 years ago at the Prada group. 

She joined Kering in 2003 and in the past two decades has held senior positions across some of the group’s biggest brands: Gucci, Bottega Veneta and, most recently, Yves Saint Laurent, where she continues to serve as president and CEO. In 2023 it was announced that she would become group deputy CEO, with all other brand CEOs reporting to her.

Built from the ground up by Pinault’s father, Kering has recently fallen behind rivals such as LVMH (overseen by fellow French billionaire and Spear’s Power Lister Bernard Arnault) and Hermès International. 

There is also a next generation of the Pinault family waiting in the wings: François Louis Nicolas Pinault, François-Henri’s eldest son, recently replaced his grandfather on the board of Christie’s – a decision hailed as a ‘major succession move’ by industry press.