Bottega Veneta Appoints Ex-LVMH CEO: 3 Luxury Moves Reshaping Retail

For retail executives, the CEO shuffle at Bottega Veneta, La Perla, and Puma marks more than just personnel changes—it signals a strategic pivot toward customer experience, brand revival, and operational agility. As luxury brands compete on in-store experience and direct client engagement, these appointments reveal where the industry is headed.

In a notable wave of executive realignment, luxury and retail behemoths Kering, La Perla, and Puma have unveiled critical leadership changes that signal strategic pivots across the sector. The most prominent move is at Bottega Veneta, where Kering has appointed Romain Spitzer as CEO, effective September 1, 2026. Spitzer, who will join Kering’s executive committee and report directly to Group CEO Luca de Meo, brings over three decades of luxury experience, most recently serving as CEO of Fragrance Group LVMH Beauty. His curriculum vitae includes stints at Guerlain, Jean Paul Gaultier Parfums, Yves Saint Laurent Parfums, and Parfums Christian Dior, underscoring a career steeped in brand elevation and global market sophistication.

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For retail executives, the CEO shuffle at Bottega Veneta, La Perla, and Puma marks more than just personnel changes—it signals a strategic pivot toward customer experience, brand revival, and operational agility.

This appointment is not merely a routine succession. Bottega Veneta, one of Kering’s crown jewels, has been at the forefront of the ‘quiet luxury’ trend, but faces the challenge of sustaining growth without diluting its exclusive craftsmanship. The selection of Spitzer, a beauty-sector veteran rather than a direct fashion executive, suggests Kering is prioritizing client engagement, retail experience, and cross-category luxury acumen. Kering CEO Luca de Meo emphasized the brand’s “remarkable growth potential” and Spitzer’s “leadership, vision and international experience to unlock the next phase of the house’s development.” This language indicates a mandate to deepen direct-to-consumer relationships, possibly through expanded retail experiences and personalized services, areas where the beauty industry’s customer data expertise can be invaluable.

The leadership shuffle extends beyond Kering. Italian lingerie and luxury brand La Perla, which had fallen into insolvency, has named Alessio Vannetti as its new CEO, also effective September 1. Vannetti, with previous roles at Gucci, Valentino, Prada, and Zegna, brings a rich background in branding and communications. His appointment is a cornerstone of La Perla’s revival under new owner Luxury Holdings LLC, led by principal shareholders Peter and Kristen Kern. The brand has already rehired its seamstresses to continue Made in Italy production, signaling a commitment to heritage craftsmanship. Vannetti succeeds Paolo Vannucchi, who helped navigate the acquisition and will remain as a strategic advisor through the fiscal year end, ensuring a smooth transition. This move reflects a broader trend of distressed luxury labels being revived by strategic operators who combine operational turnaround with storytelling prowess.