Overview
- Martine Rose’s appointment was confirmed on Monday, November 9, 2026, and she is due to begin work in Paris in mid-November.
- She is the first woman to lead Balenciaga in the house’s history and will replace Pierpaolo Piccioli after his short tenure.
- Rose built her reputation fusing menswear tailoring with streetwear and previously consulted at Balenciaga under Demna, giving her both creative credibility and a strong celebrity following.
- Kering says the move is part of CEO Luca de Meo’s plan to ‘reengineer’ how studios work by pairing creative directors with stronger product development, marketing and merchandising teams to drive faster commercial turnaround.
- The hire comes as Kering faces pressure from flat third-quarter revenue and a roughly 6 percent sales decline at Gucci, and markets will watch whether this and further creative changes — including expected leadership shifts at Saint Laurent and McQueen — translate into renewed demand, especially in China and other underpenetrated regions.