INDEPENDENCE DAY: After nearly two decades of working for top luxury brands, Benjamin Cercio is ready to strike out on his own.
The French executive, who recently wrapped up an 18-month stint as senior vice president of global communications at Gucci, is launching his own brand building and communication agency named Bencercio, WWD has learned exclusively.
The boutique consulting firm offers tailormade services to luxury, fashion, beauty, jewelry and watch companies in the fields of brand building, brand positioning, communication, entertainment, influence marketing, social media and partnerships.
“Houses are in the market for more tailormade consulting services,” Cercio told WWD. “Visibility relies on so many touchpoints — I want to offer a highly personalized service.”
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He brings 18 years of experience to the table. Cercio joined Gucci in November 2022 after a long career at Louis Vuitton, where he rose up the ladder to become its international director of press, influencer and entertainment relations.
“I have a strong network of international relationships in every market with socials, press, talents and culture,” he said.
Cercio worked with creative directors including Nicolas Ghesquière and Virgil Abloh at Vuitton, and Alessandro Michele at Gucci, as well as chief executive officers such as Michael Burke at Vuitton and Marco Bizzarri at Gucci.
The latter company underwent momentous changes after Cercio’s arrival, headlined by the exits of Michele and Bizzarri.
He’s also fluent in celebrity relations and entertainment endorsements, having built a powerful network of talents, agents, stylists and publicists. During his time at Vuitton, the brand signed ambassadors including Emma Stone, Léa Seydoux, Naomi Osaka and Sophie Turner.
“With this experience, I now wish to help companies define their brand strategies and achieve their goals,” Cercio said.
As traditional fashion PR agencies continue to consolidate, Cercio is the latest senior executive to go independent. Last month, former Karla Otto executive Julien Dufour opened his agency Spread the Word in Paris and London, while last year, former Givenchy and Louis Vuitton director Youssef Marquis set up his namesake agency Marquis.
Based in Paris, Cercio is building out his team and aims to work with clients worldwide.
