Balenciaga
French luxury conglomerate Kering has appointed Italian designer Pierpaolo Piccioli as the new Creative Director of its luxury brand Balenciaga, effective July 10. He succeeds Demna, who is set to take over as Creative Director of Kering’s flagship brand, Gucci.
According to the press release, Pierpaolo Piccioli is a highly accomplished and widely respected designer and couture master. He will bring a unique, creative vision and rich experience to Balenciaga, continuing the brand’s legacy and traditions established by Cristóbal Balenciaga, while building upon the success achieved under Demna’s decade-long creative leadership.
Piccioli’s first collection for Balenciaga will debut in October 2025.
Previously, Piccioli served as Creative Director of the Italian luxury brand Valentino. In March 2024, he concluded a 25-year tenure with the House.
Born in Nettuno, Italy, Piccioli graduated from the Istituto Europeo di Design in Rome. In 1990, he joined Italian luxury brand Fendi, where he worked alongside Maria Grazia Chiuri. In 1999, the duo began a new chapter at Valentino in the accessories department. In 2008, they were appointed Co-Creative Directors, playing a key role in revitalizing the brand. After Chiuri’s departure to Dior (under LVMH) in 2016, Piccioli became Valentino’s sole Creative Director, infusing the brand with renewed energy through romantic designs and modern silhouettes, appealing to a younger audience with a spirit of inclusivity and elevation.
Hugo Boss
German fashion and luxury group Hugo Boss has announced its latest Supervisory Board lineup:
- Stephan Sturm (61), Chairman of the Board of the Heinz Hermann Thiele Family Foundation; Andreas Kurali (59), an independent business consultant; and Michael Murray (35), CEO of Frasers Group, have been elected as new members of the Supervisory Board, succeeding Hermann Waldemer, Gaetano Marzotto, and Robin J. Stalker.
- Iris Epple-Righi, Luca Marzotto, and Christina Rosenberg were re-elected.
At a subsequent meeting, the Supervisory Board elected Stephan Sturm as the new Chairman, succeeding Hermann Waldemer, who had held the position since 2020.
Above: Stephan Sturm
Stephan Sturm worked at Fresenius Group for 18 years, first as CFO and then as CEO starting in 2016. He also served as Chairman of the Supervisory Boards of Fresenius Medical Care and Fresenius Kabi. Between 2015 and 2021, he was a member of the Lufthansa Supervisory Board and chaired its Audit Committee. Since April 2025, he has been a member of the Supervisory Board of Knorr-Bremse.
In addition, the new Supervisory Board appointed Andreas Kurali as Chairman of the Audit Committee. All members will serve five-year terms.
Fairmont Hotels & Resorts / Accor Group
Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, a brand under the Accor Group, has appointed Emma Darby as Vice President of Global Spa and Wellness.
In her new role, Darby will be fully responsible for spa and wellness operations across Fairmont’s 92 hotels worldwide. Her key priorities include gaining in-depth insights into the wellness offerings across the portfolio, identifying opportunities to enhance guest experiences, and implementing strategies that foster innovation and consistency.
Emma Darby brings over 20 years of hotel management experience, having held senior roles at Rosewood Hotels & Resorts and The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Group. Most recently, she served as Chief Operating Officer at Resense Spas, where she led a global portfolio of luxury spas, overseeing business expansion, new openings, renovations, and maintaining high standards of holistic wellness across all touchpoints.
｜Source: Official Press Releases
｜Image Credit: Company Websites, Personal Social Media Accounts
｜Editor: LeZhi
