Gucci / Kering Group
French luxury giant Kering has announced the departure of Gucci’s Creative Director, Sabato De Sarno.
The new creative director will be revealed in due course, while the Fall/Winter 2025 show, set to take place in Milan on February 25, will be presented by Gucci’s design studio.
Gucci CEO Stefano Cantino expressed gratitude to Sabato, stating, “I sincerely thank him for his commitment to Gucci’s craftsmanship and heritage.”
Francesca Bellettini, Kering’s Deputy CEO in charge of brand development, remarked, “I deeply appreciate Sabato’s dedication and professionalism and take pride in the work he has done to further strengthen Gucci’s foundations. Stefano and the new creative director will build upon this to lead Gucci back to the forefront of fashion and achieve sustainable growth.”
Sabato De Sarno joined Gucci in early 2023, overseeing all collections, including womenswear, menswear, leather goods, accessories, and lifestyle products. Previously, he was the Fashion Director at Valentino, where he played a key role in overseeing both menswear and womenswear under then-Creative Director Pierpaolo Piccioli. Before that, he held positions at Prada and Dolce & Gabbana.
Jil Sander / OTB Group
Italian luxury fashion group OTB has appointed Serge Brunschwig as the Group’s Chief Strategy Officer and CEO of its fashion brand Jil Sander, effective February 5.
In his new role, Serge Brunschwig will report directly to OTB Group CEO Ubaldo Minelli.
Ubaldo Minelli welcomed the appointment, stating, “We are very pleased to have Serge Brunschwig join the group. As CEO of Jil Sander, he will be dedicated to further elevating the brand’s positioning and strategically guiding its development. With his experience and global perspective, he will also contribute to shaping OTB’s more ambitious strategic direction.”
Serge Brunschwig holds degrees from École Polytechnique, École Nationale Supérieure des Télécommunications, and Sciences Po in Paris. Over the past few decades, he has built extensive experience in the international luxury industry.
Prior to this appointment, Serge Brunschwig spent 30 years at luxury conglomerate LVMH. He joined LVMH in 1995 and held various senior roles across multiple brands. Most recently, he served as CEO and President of Fendi until stepping down in June 2024. His previous positions included President of Dior Menswear, Chief Operating Officer of Christian Dior Couture, and CEO of Celine. He also held key international management roles at Louis Vuitton and Sephora.
Viktor & Rolf / OTB Group
Italian luxury group OTB has announced a five-year contract renewal with Viktor & Rolf’s founders, Viktor Horsting and Rolf Snoeren, who will continue to lead the brand’s creative direction.
OTB acquired a controlling stake in Viktor & Rolf in 2008 and increased its ownership to 70% in 2019, with the two founders each retaining a 15% stake.
In February 2015, Viktor & Rolf discontinued its ready-to-wear line to focus on haute couture, fragrances, and brand licensing.
In its press release, OTB highlighted that under the leadership of Viktor Horsting and Rolf Snoeren, the brand has achieved unparalleled success in the haute couture world. Their collections reflect the nuances and diversity of their artistic expression, consistently pushing the boundaries between fashion and art while redefining the concept of couture.
Renzo Rosso, Chairman and Founder of OTB Group, stated: “Viktor and Rolf are two of the most unique designers in the international fashion scene. They have completely reimagined haute couture, turning everything they create into art. I am thrilled to continue working with them, and their talent will continue to inspire and surprise the fashion industry.”
Jacquemus
French designer brand Jacquemus is set to welcome Sarah Benady as its new CEO.
In her new role, Sarah Benady will lead the team in accelerating the brand’s international expansion.
Most recently, Sarah Benady served as President of North America for Celine, a brand under LVMH. Prior to that, she was CEO of Ba&sh North America and also held roles at French fashion brand The Kooples, where she rose from International Director to President. She is a graduate of HEC Paris.
Since December 2023, Jacquemus has undergone leadership changes. The brand’s Managing Director, Bastien Daguzan, who played a key role in its rapid growth, stepped down, with founder and Creative Director Simon Porte Jacquemus temporarily taking over as CEO.
Casablanca Paris
Txampi Diz, Chief Marketing Officer of French designer brand Casablanca, may be departing after less than a year in the role.
Txampi Diz joined Casablanca in April 2024, having previously been the first-ever Chief Marketing Officer of French luxury brand Balmain.
His collaboration with Balmain began in 2007 when he worked at fashion PR firm KCD as Vice President and General Manager of KCD’s Paris office. In 2017, following Balmain’s acquisition by Qatari royal investment firm Mayhoola For Investments and a subsequent organizational restructuring, Txampi Diz was appointed as the brand’s first-ever Chief Marketing Officer, overseeing advertising, media relations, and digital campaigns.
| Sources: Official press releases, fashion magazines
| Image Credit: Brand websites, personal social media accounts
| Editor: LeZhi
