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Kering Shakes Up Leadership at Brioni and Ginori 1735

Federico Arrigoni takes over as CEO of Brioni from Mehdi Benabadji, who assumes the helm at homeware label Ginori 1735 as the group looks to strengthen its smaller brands amid wider struggles.
Black-and-white photos show Mehdi Benabadji and Federico Arrigoni.
Mehdi Benabadji and Federico Arrigoni. (Kering)

Kering is reshuffling the leadership at smaller heritage brands Brioni and Ginori 1735 as it faces mounting pressure from steep sales declines across its broader business.

The group announced on Tuesday that Federico Arrigoni, previously deputy chief executive and Asia Pacific president of Saint Laurent, has become CEO of Brioni. The menswear label’s previous leader, Mehdi Benabadji, is taking the helm at Florence-based porcelain house Ginori 1735. Once seen as a niche player in high-end tableware, the brand is being repositioned by Kering as a global lifestyle label.

Before being appointed in 2023 as deputy CEO at Saint Laurent, where he oversaw industrial operations and commercial activities, Arrigoni held key international positions at the brand. Benabadji is credited with stabilising Brioni and driving international momentum through operational restructuring.

The leadership changes reflect a strategic bid to bolster the performance of the group’s smaller, non-flagship houses, which have gained greater importance amid Gucci‘s ongoing slump. Last week, Kering reported a 25 percent drop in Gucci’s sales for Q1 2025, as well as weakened sales at its other major fashion brands, including Saint Laurent and Balenciaga.

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Kering’s Woes Deepen as Gucci’s Sales Tumble 25%

Group revenues fell 14 percent in the first quarter as Saint Laurent and Balenciaga also suffered from the downturn in luxury demand.

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