French luxury group Kering is putting a longtime executive in charge of its Italian operations.

Announced Sept. 1, Sabina Belli becomes president of Kering Italia effective Sept. 15, reporting to group CEO Luca de Meo and based in Milan. She will represent the group in Italy and handle its dealings with public institutions, luxury industry associations and other stakeholders.

“Sabina brings a deep understanding of the Italian luxury ecosystem and a strong ability to build partnerships across business, education and public institutions,” said Mr. de Meo in a statement.

“Together with our teams, she will strengthen Kering’s long-term commitment to Italy and help further amplify the country’s influence on the global luxury industry.”

Manufacturing base
More than a quarter of Kering’s global workforce is based in Italy, alongside indirect jobs across its manufacturing and logistics network. The country houses Gucci, Bottega Veneta, Brioni, Pomellato, DoDo, Ginori 1735 and Kering Eyewear, plus corporate offices, product development centers and factories.

Ms. Belli will keep running Kering Accademia per le Eccellenze, the group’s program for preserving Italian craftsmanship and training the next generation of manufacturing talent, which she has led since April. The role also covers work on industrial excellence, innovation and sustainability across the luxury supply chain.

More than a quarter of Kering’s global workforce is based in Italy. Image credit: Kering

She joined Kering in 2015 as CEO of Pomellato Group, arriving from a career across advertising, beauty and luxury that included senior positions at WPP, L’Oréal Luxe and LVMH, among them Christian Dior Parfums, Moët Hennessy, Veuve Clicquot and Bulgari.

In 2017 she founded Pomellato for Women, a platform on gender equality. She sits on the board of the Kering Foundation and is vice president of the jewelry sector and manufacturing talents at Altagamma.

Kering employed 44,000 people and generated revenue of 14.7 billion euros, or about $16 billion at current exchange, in 2025.

The appointment follows a run of leadership changes under Mr. de Meo, including a new chief executive at Alexander McQueen earlier this year (see story).