Balenciaga
French luxury brand Balenciaga, part of the Kering Group, has appointed Drieke Leenknegt as Chief Marketing Officer.
In her new role, Drieke Leenknegt will report directly to Chief Executive Officer Gianfranco Gianangeli and will join the brand’s executive committee.
Drieke Leenknegt began her career at PR consultancy PR Force Consulting in Brussels, Belgium, as an Account Manager. She later joined American sportswear brand Nike as Corporate Communications Specialist for the Benelux region. Over a 20-year tenure across Nike’s Europe, U.S., and China markets, she held several senior roles, including General Manager of the Women’s Category for Greater China. She was subsequently transferred to Nike’s global headquarters in Portland, where she served as Vice President of Global KOL Marketing and Collaborations.
From 2020 to 2022, she acted as a brand consultant for renowned track and field athlete Allyson Felix, supporting the launch of her personal brand Saysh. She then joined Timberland, under U.S.-based outdoor group VF Corporation, as Chief Marketing Officer. From 2023 to 2025, she served as Chief Marketing Officer at Vans, another VF brand. After leaving, she worked as an independent consultant for multiple clients, including Chinese sportswear giant Anta.
Versace
Emmanuel Gintzburger has stepped down as Chief Executive Officer of Italian luxury brand Versace, which was officially acquired by the Prada Group last year.
Emmanuel Gintzburger joined Versace in 2022. Prior to that, he served as CEO of Alexander McQueen, and earlier held senior roles at Saint Laurent, Lanvin, Sephora, and Louis Vuitton.
This leadership change is part of a broader organisational restructuring at Versace. Further details regarding the new management team will be announced at a later date.
Harrods
British luxury department store Harrods has appointed Andreas Efstathiou as Chief Operating Officer.
In his new role, Andreas Efstathiou will oversee multiple departments, including supply chain, store facilities, engineering, and security.
Andreas Efstathiou has worked at Harrods for many years. He joined in 2017 as IT Director and was later promoted to Chief Information Officer. Prior to that, he held positions at Philips, NetU Group, and Lidl.
Rabanne
Rabanne, the French designer brand under Spain’s Puig Group, has announced the departure of Creative Director Julien Dossena.
Julien Dossena assumed the role in 2013 and led the revival of the brand’s fashion business, significantly reshaping its positioning during his tenure. While Rabanne is widely known for its “Space Age” aesthetic, its fragrance business has also performed strongly. Under his creative direction, the brand expanded beyond its original identity into a broader fashion positioning, while retaining signature design elements that underpin its reputation, including futuristic aesthetics, playful use of metal, and chainmail fabrics.
The brand stated that under Julien Dossena’s leadership, Rabanne achieved substantial commercial growth, refreshed its global market presence, and continuously strengthened its influence across fashion and culture.
The appointment of a new Creative Director will be announced in due course. Former Balmain Creative Director Olivier Rousteing is widely considered a likely successor. He has already joined Rabanne and is currently working on redefining the brand’s design direction, with plans to steer it back toward a bold, exuberant, party-driven aesthetic.
Flos / Flos B&B Italia
Italian high-end furniture group Flos B&B Italia has appointed Pablo Illueca as Chief Executive Officer of its high-end lighting brand Flos.
Pablo Illueca joined Flos in 2012 and was later promoted to head Antares, a professional architectural lighting company responsible for producing Flos’s architectural lighting lines. Flos acquired Antares in the early 21st century. Since 2022, Pablo Illueca has also served as Flos’s Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Ambassador.
| Source: Official press releases, FashionNetwork
| Image Credit: Personal social media accounts
| Editor: Luxeplace
