Kering is making significant changes at the top. The French luxury group announced on April 21, 2026 that it will propose the appointment of two new independent directors at its Annual General Meeting on May 28, 2026, a move that would bring the board to 13 members, with 64% independent directors, 45% women, and 5 different nationalities.
Meet the Two Nominees
The first proposed appointee is Marie-Hélène Chenut, a seasoned executive who spent over 35 years at Chanel, holding roles across marketing, business development, and talent development on an international scale. Most recently, she led the Haute Couture division and the Haute Couture and Ready to Wear ateliers for nine years. Her deep understanding of operational and brand related challenges, and her ability to read the expectations of a demanding global clientele, are what Kering says makes her a natural fit for the board.
The second nominee is Laurent Kleitman,…
currently Group Chief Executive and Director of Mandarin Oriental. He brings more than 30 years of international leadership across the luxury, beauty, and consumer goods sectors.
His résumé reads like a who’s who of luxury: he previously served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Parfums Christian Dior and CEO of LVMH‘s Beauty Division in Russia and CEI, followed by the President role at Coty‘s Consumer Beauty division, plus senior leadership positions across Europe and Asia with Unilever.
A Farewell to Three Board Members The reshuffle also marks the departure of three current board members. Jean-Pierre Denis, who has served as a Kering Director since June 9, 2008, submitted his resignation effective at the end of the May 28 AGM.
Over nearly 18 years, he chaired the Audit Committee from 2012 to 2020, later served as Vice-Chairman of that committee, and has been Climate Change Lead since 2022…
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