Gucci
Recently, Italian luxury brand Gucci, under the Kering Group, appointed Cayetano Fabry as its new Chief Commercial Officer (CCO), a significant move amid the brand’s strategic reorganization and revitalization efforts.
Cayetano Fabry brings extensive experience in the luxury sector. His career began at the LVMH Group, where he worked for Louis Vuitton for 16 years in various operational roles, serving as Managing Director for regions including the UK, Ireland, South Africa, Italy, Mexico, and the Caribbean. In 2020, he joined Kering as President of Saint Laurent’s EMEA region (Europe, Middle East, and Africa) until July of this year.
This is the latest leadership change by Gucci to revive the brand. Earlier, in early September, the brand appointed Davide Buzzoni as Global Communications Director. In May, it named Stefano Cantino as Deputy General Manager to support CEO Jean-François Palus, who has been in the role for a year.
Victoria Beckham
British designer brand Victoria Beckham announced that CEO Marie Leblanc has stepped down.
Marie Leblanc, a seasoned French fashion executive, joined the brand in 2018 as Product Director and was promoted to CEO the following year. She played a pivotal role in turning the brand around, working closely with founder Victoria Beckham.
Before joining the brand, Marie Leblanc was responsible for women’s fashion and brand positioning at Printemps department store. She also worked in design for French brands Isabel Marant and Sonia Rykiel and was involved in product development for luxury brand Celine.
Her successor has not yet been named, and for now, Ralph Toledano, Chairman of the Board, will temporarily assume her responsibilities.
Unilever
European consumer goods giant Unilever announced the appointment of Mary Carmen Gasco-Buisson as CEO of its Prestige division, replacing Vasiliki Petrou, who stepped down in July after leading the company for 10 years. The appointment will take effect on November 1. Mary Carmen Gasco-Buisson will report to Priya Nair, President of Beauty and Wellbeing at Unilever.
Prior to this, Mary Carmen Gasco-Buisson had been serving as Chief Marketing Officer and Executive Vice President of Global Business at Danish jewelry brand Pandora since October 2022.
Previously, from 2020 to 2022, she was Global Brand and Operations Head for Unilever’s mass-market brands Axe and Lynx. She also spent over 20 years at P&G, working on mass brands and serving as Global Marketing and Innovation Director for Hugo Boss fragrances, and as Global Skincare and North American Brand Manager for Olay.
Unilever’s Prestige division, established in 2014, comprises ten premium beauty brands, including K18, Dermalogica, Paula’s Choice, Murad, Kate Somerville, Ren Clean Skincare, Garancia, Tatcha, Living Proof, and Hourglass.
Hearts On Fire
Jewelry brand Hearts On Fire, owned by Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group, announced the appointment of industry veteran Gabrielle Grazi as Vice President of Sales for North America, replacing Jacqueline Raffi, who stepped down last month. Gabrielle will report to Rebecca Foerster, President of Hearts On Fire North America.
Gabrielle Grazi brings over 20 years of luxury retail experience. Most recently, she was Vice President of Retail Strategy and Partnerships at the Natural Diamond Council and was elected as the 2025 Chair of the Women’s Jewelry Association. In her new role, Gabrielle will oversee sales strategies, enhance customer engagement, and strengthen the brand’s presence in key markets.
This appointment is part of Hearts On Fire’s multi-year transformation plan to bolster its leadership team in North America. Gabrielle commented, “Joining Hearts On Fire during this critical global transformation is exciting. I plan to strategically accelerate the next chapter of launching modern, luxury diamond jewelry at the best retail stores in North America.”
SMCP
French luxury group SMCP, the parent company of Sandro, Maje, Claudie Pierlot, and Fursac, has appointed Ida Simonsen as the new President and CEO for North America, replacing Paul Griffin, who held the role since 2015.
Ida Simonsen is a seasoned leader in the American fashion market, with extensive experience in top luxury brands. Before joining SMCP, she held key sales positions at Marni and Dries Van Noten. Her most recent role was President of the Americas for Stella McCartney, overseeing retail and wholesale operations in the US, Canada, and Mexico. During her 12-year tenure, she played a crucial role in guiding Stella McCartney through the 2019 ownership transition from Kering to the LVMH Group.
In her new position, Ida Simonsen will lead SMCP’s strategy for the North American market, a key growth area for the group. The group has been actively strengthening its presence in high-potential markets, especially the US, with new flagship stores for Sandro and Maje in prime locations in cities like Los Angeles and New York. In 2023, the group reported revenue of 1.23 billion euros, with Sandro alone achieving record growth, exceeding 600 million euros in revenue. Looking ahead, SMCP aims to maintain its focus on a strategy of “protecting profitability while driving growth,” leveraging opportunities in key global markets.
| Sources: Official websites and LinkedIn pages of the respective groups/brands, executive LinkedIn profiles, Premium Beauty, Cosmetic Business, Forbes
| Image Credit: Official websites and LinkedIn pages of the respective groups/brands, executive LinkedIn profiles
