The former Renault executive will oversee digital, AI, and IT strategy at the luxury group
Kering has appointed Pierre Houlès as chief digital, AI and IT officer, continuing the restructuring of its leadership under chief executive officer Luca de Meo. The appointment is effective immediately, with Houlès reporting to group chief operating officer Jean-Marc Duplaix and joining the executive committee.
Houlès joins from Renault, where he worked from 2016 and played a central role in the company’s digital transformation. He was named managing director of Renault Digital in 2019 and also served as deputy chief information officer, while holding additional responsibilities as technical director for the Mobilize and Dacia brands.
His appointment reflects de Meo’s broader strategy of bringing in executives from the automotive sector as he works to streamline Kering’s operations and reposition the group. De Meo previously led Renault Group before joining Kering in September and has since recruited several former colleagues into key roles.
“His mission is to strengthen the group’s digital strategy and accelerate the transformation of its technology architecture to support the operational and technological ambitions of Kering,” the company said in a statement. The group added that Houlès’ experience in large-scale transformation, complex systems integration, and emerging technologies — particularly artificial intelligence — will be central to building a more integrated and forward-looking organization.
A graduate of EPITA and the Sorbonne Business School, Houlès began his career at Capgemini in 2004 before moving to Canal+ Group, where he became chief information officer in 2012.
He joins a growing list of automotive-sector hires at Kering, including Stéphane Noël, who will take on the role of chief industrial officer starting April 1; Thomas Cuntz, head of global talent development and people engagement; and Giovanni Perosino, senior vice president of marketing at Gucci.
The leadership changes come as Kering prepares for a strategic reset under de Meo, with the CEO expected to outline his roadmap at a Capital Markets Day in Florence on April 16.