Gucci chief executive Stefano Cantino is expected to exit his short-lived tenure at the helm of the brand in hours to days, reports multiple business media sources. Cantino, a veteran of both Prada and Louis Vuitton has been Gucci CEO for about nine months.

Francesca Bellettini, currently Kering’s deputy CEO for brand development, is expected to succeed Cantino.

After a major success as CEO of Saint Laurent, growing the brand nearly six-fold into an estimated €3 billion ($3.5 million) in annual revenue, it was Bellettini who made the misguided decision to choose former creative director Sabato De Sarno, to reboot Gucci in 2024.

Gucci Is a Ruptured Aorta for Kering

Turning around Gucci’s performance is the primary focus at Kering. The brand still accounts for nearly half of Kering group sales and two-thirds of its operating profit. Last year Gucci’s sales fell 21 percent, followed by a 25 percent drop in the first half of 2025.

The bloodletting at Gucci has been quite incredible to watch and understand within the industry — as if there is no floor for the red ink spurting from Gucci’s ruptured aorta, out of its heart and throughout its body.

Kering CEO Luca de Meo Arrives Monday

Monday is new Kering CEO Luca de Meo’s first day at work, after being confirmed by Kering shareholders last week. De Meo’s stellar reputation is one of taking resolute action when entering other turnaround assignments.

If the action proceeds as reported in multiple media reports Sunday evening in the US, the new Kering CEO will have demonstrated to financial markets that he is indeed now in charge at Kering, a promise confirmed multiple times by chairman of Kering François-Henri Pinault.

Last week, De Meo announced plans to delay/table Kerring’s intention to acquire the rest of Valentino from Mayhoola, after taking a 30 percent stake in Valentino in 2023. The decision to fully-acquire the remaining 70 percent of Valentino has been moved to 2029.