Kering names Sabina Belli to lead its Italian operations

Kering has appointed Sabina Belli as president of Kering Italia, effective 15 September, with the role reporting directly to group chief executive Luca de Meo. Belli will be based in Milan and will represent the group across its Italian operations, a market that remains central to luxury manufacturing, sourcing and brand heritage for houses including Gucci, Bottega Veneta and Saint Laurent.

The appointment lands at a sensitive moment for Kering. The group has faced sustained pressure over Gucci's performance and has been working through a broader leadership reset under de Meo, who took the helm this year with a mandate to stabilise the business. Placing a dedicated president in charge of Italy, reporting straight to the chief executive rather than through a regional or brand structure, signals that de Meo wants direct visibility into Italian manufacturing and supply chain issues, an area that has drawn regulatory and reputational scrutiny across the sector amid supply-chain scandals implicating several major fashion houses over labour practices among subcontractors.

Belli's mandate will likely extend beyond ceremonial representation. Italy hosts much of Kering's artisanal production base, and tighter oversight there speaks to the group's need to demonstrate responsible sourcing credentials at a time when "Made in Italy" claims face growing scepticism from regulators and consumers alike. Watch for how the new role interacts with Kering's individual maison leadership and whether it signals a wider push to centralise supply chain governance across the group's Italian manufacturing network.

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