Some appointments go almost unnoticed, while others immediately set the tone. Since taking the helm at Kering , Luca de Meo has chosen a very direct approach to introducing himself to the luxury world . Not a cold press release, but a personal message, published on social media, where he speaks of humanity, trust, and the future. These are words not always spontaneously associated with a publicly traded luxury group , and they certainly pique our interest in his vision
Leadership that puts people at the center
What strikes you first about Luca de Meois his way of talking about the teams. He emphasizes the women and men who bring Kering, in the workshops, the design studios, the boutiques, the headquarters. For him, luxury begins there.
His idea is both simple and powerful: to rebuild trust internally, to listen again to those who know the field, to restore value to the voices of those who create, design, and advise. He speaks of active listening, feedback, and dialogue. This often-overused vocabulary takes on a new resonance within a group that brings together some of the most desirable brands in the world.
In a context where luxury has sometimes been perceived as distant, almost inaccessible, this more human approach feels like a form of rebalancing. It's a way of saying that excellence cannot be decreed; it is built with the teams, day after day.
Craftsmanship excellence as a compass
This involves increased support for workshops, local artisans, and craftspeople, some of whom are struggling due to mass production. The idea is to prioritize quality over the race for volume, to bring back the importance of the long time required for creation, prototyping, and the careful selection of materials.
From this perspective, collaborations with emerging designers, more exclusive brands, or independent artisans make perfect sense. They enrich theDNA of the group's brands while preserving what lies at the heart of luxury : rarity, precision, and craftsmanship.
Rebuilding trust around Kering
Trust is a word that Luca de Meo readily repeats, whether speaking about clients, teams, or partners. In a closely scrutinized sector, where the slightest inconsistency is highlighted in seconds on social media, this trust becomes a true strategic asset .
In practical terms, this means greater transparency regarding production methods, the origin of materials, and ethical commitments. Explaining how products are made, with whom, where, and why. Showing what goes on behind the scenes rather than remaining hidden behind a gilded curtain.
For Kering's brands, the challenge is to find the right balance. To preserve the element of mystery essential to luxury, without giving the impression of hiding. To answer the questions of new generations of customers, who are very sensitive to issues of traceability, working conditions, and environmental impact.
Towards sustainable and responsible luxury
Obviously, we can no longer talk about Kering without addressing the issue of sustainable luxury. The group has already made strong commitments in recent years, but Luca de Meo seems determined to go even further.
Reducing the carbon footprint of operations, working with responsible materials, limiting waste, developing the circular economy: these topics are no longer annexes to the strategy, they are becoming its core.
The ambition is clear: to prove that a luxury group can remain desirable and desirable while better respecting resources, the planet, and communities. It's not about making customers feel guilty, but about giving them the opportunity to choose a luxury more aligned with their values, without sacrificing the dream or the beauty of the pieces.
Innovation and technology at the service of emotion
One might think thatinnovation technological is the enemy of artisanal craftsmanship. Luca de Meo argues the opposite. For him, technology can enhance the luxury if used intelligently.
He envisions shopping experiences enhanced by augmented reality, apps that allow customers to discover a collection in a new way, and digital services that extend the relationship with the customer long after the sale. The goal is not to replace the store or human interaction, but to complement them.
At the same time, technology can also transform what goes on behind the scenes. Tools for better inventory forecasting, platforms for reducing unsold goods, solutions for tracing materials from supplier to store—these are all levers that make sustainable luxury more tangible and measurable.
Uniting the houses around a common vision
The Kering group is a constellation of houses, each with its own history, identity, and clientele. One of Luca de Meo 's missions is to build bridges between them without homogenizing them.
It relies on a collaborative approach: sharing expertise, best practices, and innovations from one that can be adapted by the other. Facilitating cross-functional projects, dialogues between artistic directors, and exchanges between teams.
This federation effort has a clear objective: to make Kering more than just a collection of brands—a luxury group capable of moving forward in the same direction on key issues such as sustainability,innovation, customer relations, andartisanal excellence.
A more humane future of luxury
Ultimately, what Luca de Meo for Keringis a new way of thinking about luxury. Less polished, less solely focused on the product, more attentive to those who design it, manufacture it, and wear it.
His very direct discourse on social media already sets the tone. A mix of approachability, clear-sightedness about the challenges ahead, and confidence in the group's ability to reinvent itself without denying its heritage.
Now the challenge is to transform this vision into reality, collection after collection, decision after decision. If the gamble pays off, Kering could embody what many expect from sustainable luxury today: a sector capable of inspiring dreams in a different way, with just as much style, but with more meaning.
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