GUCCI HIRE: Kering continues to cast its net into the automotive industry.
Gucci is naming Giovanni Perosino senior vice president marketing. The appointment is effective Dec. 15.
Perosino joins Gucci from Maserati, where he has been global chief marketing officer. He has more than 25 years of experience in brand strategy, marketing and communications and has held throughout his career senior leadership roles at Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, Audi, Lamborghini and ITA Airways.
Perosino will report to the newly appointed chief client, marketing and commercial officer Dario Gargiulo, and will lead Gucci’s global marketing and communications teams.
As reported, Gianluca De Ficchy was named Gucci’s chief financial officer, reporting to Francesca Bellettini, president and chief executive officer of Gucci. He succeeds Alberto Valente, whose title was chief financial, data and operations officer, and who worked at Gucci for 17 years.
Like Luca de Meo, who took on the role of CEO of parent company Kering on Sept. 15, De Ficchy joins Gucci from the automotive industry. He was most recently CEO of Mobilize within the Renault Group and was chairman of the board of directors of RCI Banque SA. He began his career at Ernst & Young, then joined RCI Bank and Services and advanced through several key roles at FCA and Nissan.
As reported, de Meo spent five years leading Renault and boasts a total of 30 years in the automobile industry at brands including Fiat, Alfa Romeo, Toyota, Volkswagen and Seat.
The recent appointments come as Valérie Leberichel has exited Gucci, which she joined at the end of December last year as senior vice president of global communications. She was recruited by and reported to then-CEO Stefano Cantino.
As Gargiulo arrived, Maria Cristina Lomanto, Gucci’s president of Europe, the Middle East and Africa since May, left the company. Chief commercial officer Cayetano Fabry succeeded Lomanto as head of the EMEA region.
Gucci is in the midst of a turnaround under Bellettini and artistic director Demna.
