The Former Louis Vuitton Executive Succeeds Renaud de Lesquen
Givenchy has appointed former Louis Vuitton executive Alessandro Valenti as the brand’s newest CEO. The internal announcement from the LVMH group revealed that Valenti, who most recently held the role of president for Europe, Middle East, and Africa at Louis Vuitton, will take up the top position immediately.
Valenti takes over the reins from Renaud de Lesquen, who, after switching from Dior Americas in April 2020 as CEO and president of that region, acted as the top executive at Givenchy. This management shift ushers in a new era at Givenchy, which has lacked a creative director since the end of 2023. Notably, American designer Matthew M. Williams concluded his three-year stint marked by the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic during this period.
Affirming the shift, Sidney Toledano, chairman of the Givenchy board and advisor to LVMH chairman and CEO Bernard Arnault, lauded Valenti’s 25 years of international experience:
His extensive knowledge of the luxury industry, including more than 10 years at Louis Vuitton, coupled with his retail expertise and managerial skills, will be key assets in taking Givenchy to reach new milestones.”
De Lesquen’s next move in his career remains unknown. During his tenure at Givenchy, De Lesquen carried out internal restructuring, strategically directing the business model towards company-retained retail inclusive of its upcoming permanent Beverly Hills branch on Rodeo Drive and the e-commerce platform.
Additionally, De Lesquen spearheaded the re-launch of key leather goods like the Antigona bag and Shark Lock boots while fostering new handbag franchises such as the Voyou. It is anticipated that Valenti will collaborate with Givenchy’s new creative leader to engineer a revival at the legacy couture house, established in 1952.
Over time, Givenchy has seen a series of designers take on its legacy since its founder retired in 1995, including John Galliano, Alexander McQueen, Julien Macdonald, Riccardo Tisci, Clare Waight Keller and Williams. Reliable sources suggest that Givenchy has been in discussion with a range of profiles for the top Paris spot, however, the search is still ongoing.
Starting his journey at Vuitton in 2014 as the managing director of France and Monaco, Valenti also served as senior vice president of retail at Polo Ralph Lauren. Earlier, he held senior retail and operations roles at Giorgio Armani and Gianni Versace. With a degree in Business Administration from Bocconi University in Milan, Valenti made his entrance into the professional world as a financial controller at IT company Bull and retailer Carrefour in Italy.
The appointment of Valenti once again suggests Givenchy parent LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton’s preference for nurturing and promoting executives from within. Last month, Pierre-Emmanuel Angeloglou secured the CEO position at Fendi, along with his role as managing director of the LVMH Fashion Group. Vuitton has chosen Beatrice Monguidi from the men’s business unit at Christian Dior Couture to succeed Valenti.