Kering, which owns fashion and leather goods houses Gucci, Saint Laurent, Bottega Veneta, Balenciaga, Alexander McQueen and Brioni, has promoted Laurent Claquin to the newly created role of chief brand officer to oversee the French luxury group’s communications strategy.
Claquin will move from his current position of president of Kering Americas, which he started in 2012, on 1 July.
His appointment comes following the departure of chief communications and image officer Valérie Duport in March.
Claquin will join the executive committee and report to Jean-Marc Duplaix, Kering’s deputy CEO of operations and finance. Claquin’s new job was created to increase Kering’s “visibility and influence”, with him responsible for coordinating the business’s external and internal brand communications.
“Laurent Claquin will support the houses by amplifying their communications efforts when appropriate, and by developing high-profile events that bolster their initiatives,” Kering said in a statement.
Claquin joined the luxury fashion house in 2005 as senior VP of communications.
