Group 1: Leadership Changes - Luca de Meo has decided to step down as CEO of Renault Group after five years to seek new challenges outside the automotive industry, and he will become the CEO of Kering Group [1][3] - De Meo is the first external executive to lead the French Pinault family-controlled Kering Group, aiming to revitalize the company [1][3] - François-Henri Pinault, the current CEO of Kering, will transition to the role of Chairman, while De Meo's appointment is expected to be confirmed at the shareholder meeting on September 9 [3][4] Group 2: Performance and Challenges - Kering Group's stock rose by 11.76%, marking its largest single-day increase since November 2008, while Renault's stock fell by 8.69% following the announcement [3] - Kering has faced performance issues, with a projected revenue of €17.194 billion for 2024, a 12% decline year-on-year, and a net profit of €1.133 billion, down 62% from €2.983 billion in 2023 [7] - Gucci, Kering's core brand, saw a revenue drop of 23% to €7.65 billion in 2024, significantly impacting the overall performance of the group [7] Group 3: De Meo's Background and Experience - De Meo has over 30 years of experience in the automotive industry, previously serving as CEO of Renault, where he led significant reforms and a turnaround strategy [4][6] - Under De Meo's leadership, Renault transformed from a loss of €141 million in 2019 to a recovery, focusing on electric vehicles and strategic partnerships in China [6] - Analysts believe De Meo's strengths in brand management and marketing will be crucial for Kering, despite his lack of experience in the luxury goods sector [7][8] Group 4: Future Plans and Expectations - De Meo is expected to implement cost-cutting measures at Kering, potentially including store closures and asset sales, to address the group's debt exceeding €10 billion [7][8] - He will also need to manage the acquisition of the remaining shares of Valentino, which Kering partially acquired for $1.9 billion in 2023 [8] - Analysts express optimism that De Meo's experience in corporate management will help Kering navigate its current challenges, although concerns remain about his expertise in creative design [8]