Luca de Meo to Leave Renault, May Take Kering CEO Post
Renault says Luca de Meo will leave after leading its turnaround; French press claim he is set to succeed Francois-Henri Pinault as executive at Kering.
Elena Whitmore 
Departure Announced by the Carmaker
Renault (RENA.PA) confirmed on Sunday that its chief executive, Luca de Meo, has submitted his resignation, adding that he intends to pursue “new challenges outside the automotive sector.” People familiar with the matter told French daily Le Figaro that the 58-year-old Italian is lined up to become chief executive of luxury group Kering (PRTP.PA), owner of Gucci, Saint Laurent and Bottega Veneta.
Five Years of Reshaping Renault
Appointed in July 2020, de Meo oversaw sweeping cost cuts, renegotiated the two-decade alliance with Nissan (7201.T), and funnelled investment into hybrid and battery-electric models to meet tightening emissions rules in Europe and China. Company insiders note that margins recovered despite pandemic disruptions and rising raw-material prices, while the revised pact with Nissan allowed each partner greater strategic autonomy.
Luxury Group Faces a Test
For Kering, the potential hire comes at a delicate moment. Flagship label Gucci is losing market share to competitors, and investors have questioned the group’s debt load of more than €10 billion after successive profit warnings. Analysts say bringing in an outsider steeped in industrial turnarounds signals the Pinault family’s determination to restore consistent growth.
Governance Overhaul on the Table
Sources close to the Pinault family add that current chairman and CEO Francois-Henri Pinault has been weighing a split of his dual roles for months. Should de Meo be appointed, Pinault would remain chair, focusing on portfolio strategy while the new CEO tackles day-to-day operations. That shift would align Kering with peers such as LVMH and Richemont, where separate governance structures are standard.
What Happens Next
De Meo is expected to stay at Renault until mid-July to ensure a handover; the board says succession planning is already under way. Market observers will watch whether his industrial discipline translates to the creative, consumer-driven luxury arena—and whether his exit slows Renault’s timetable for the planned spinoff of its electric-vehicle arm Ampere. Meanwhile, a formal comment from Kering has yet to emerge, leaving both sectors to speculate on one of this year’s most unusual leadership moves.
