Kering names group veteran Palus to run Gucci transition

(Reuters) -Kering has named managing director Jean-Francois Palus to lead Gucci for a transitional period, part of a management reshuffle at the top ranks of the French luxury goods group in an effort to restore momentum at its star label.

“Jean-Francois has been my right-hand man and a daily sparring partner for several decades. He will now focus his energy on getting our largest asset in top shape,” Kering (EPA:) Chairman and CEO Francois-Henri Pinault said in a statement Tuesday.

Gucci, sales of which have lagged behind rivals such as Louis Vuitton and Hermes in recent quarters, has already begun to change artistic direction with this year’s appointment of Sabato De Sarno, a relatively unknown designer, as creative director.

De Sarno will present his debut collection in September.

Marco Bizzarri, Gucci’s president and chief executive since 2015, will leave the company on Sept. 23, the French owner of the Italian brand said.

As part of the changes, Francesca Bellettini, who has run fast-growing fashion label Yves Saint Laurent since 2013, has been named Kering’s deputy CEO in charge of brand development while group finance chief Jean-Marc Duplaix has been named as Kering deputy CEO in charge of operations and finance.