PARIS – Kering is adding two French luxury industry veterans to its board of directors, bolstering its luxury expertise as chief executive officer Luca de Meo implements a wide-ranging turnaround plan.
At its annual general meeting, scheduled for May 28, the French luxury group will propose the appointment of Marie-Hélène Chenut and Laurent Kleitman as independent directors.
Chenut has had a career spanning more than three decades at Chanel, most recently as head of the haute couture division and the haute couture and ready-to-wear ateliers.
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“Her industry expertise, understanding of business, operational and brand-related issues, and ability to grasp the expectations of a demanding international clientele will be valuable assets to the board of directors of Kering,” the company said in a statement Tuesday.
Kleitman is the group chief executive and director of the Mandarin Oriental hospitality group and previously served as CEO of Parfums Christian Dior and LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton’s beauty division in Russia and CEI. He has also held senior roles at Coty and Unilever.
Kering touted “his expertise in managing global luxury brands, his extensive international experience and knowledge of various markets, as well as his strong financial and strategic background.”
Their nominations follow the expiry of the terms of office of former Chanel global CEO Maureen Chiquet and senior Google executive Yonca Dervisoglu.
In a further changing of the guard, French executive Jean-Pierre Denis is stepping down as director after an 18-year tenure. He has served in a variety of roles on the board, including chairman of the audit committee, member of the remuneration and sustainability committees and climate change lead.
“I would like to warmly thank Jean-Pierre Denis for his involvement throughout his many years on the board and for his major contribution to its work. For nearly 18 years, he has supported us with unwavering rigor and high standards,” said Kering chairman François-Henri Pinault.
“He was also a pioneer through his commitment to sustainability, helping at a very early stage to place these issues at the heart of our thinking,” Pinault added.
If the nominees are approved by shareholders at the AGM, Kering’s board will comprise 13 members with 64 percent of independent directors, 45 percent of women and five different nationalities. The proportion of women previously stood at 50 percent.
