They are reluctant to be targeted.. Bellettini, a former investment banker, had stints at Prada group and Helmut Lang. Her major renovation of the companys organisation not only consolidated the brands new image, but also allowed Saint Laurent to reach a whole new audience. In 2019 she was awarded the FrenchKnight of the Legion of Honour, the highest possible distinction for a civilian in the country. So maybe it makes sense that in this new mothership, the result of three years of work, he prefers a hidden space over all else. We understand what each other wants, she said. It was this confidence that led her to choose Mr. Vaccarello, 38, to replace Mr. Slimane, the designer who turned around the struggling Saint Laurent while changing the name of its ready-to-wear line, its store dcor, ad campaigns and every product. Will Others Follow? The news sent shockwaves through the industry, with many interpreting the change as a sign of disrespect to the companys founder and namesake. Bellettini has overseen a radical rebranding, overhauling the company from within Image: Nico. When I had to replace Paul Deneve as C.E.O. Her poise, her elegance, her drive, all with an overwhelming optimism. We communicate in a context thats not related to marketing, such as conferences and internal communication. She says that being a Kering brand is a benefit in terms of sustainability compliances. Ms. Bellettini, 47, not only has propelled the brand into the exclusive billion-euro club a status unofficially codified last season when the Saint Laurent show was moved to the shadow of the Eiffel Tower but in doing so has also made herself one of the most powerful women in fashion, where there are only a handful of female chief executives. And though former Creative Director Hedi Slimane was very much a driving force for this transition, it was CEO Francesca Bellettini who ensured the success of such a risky strategy, while also overseeing a radical overhaul of the company from within. She later became the Operations Manager for Helmut Lang where she found out that she was just as much attracted to the create aspect of the fashion industry as the business aspect. Despite a heavy workload and "massive" pressure, she said she feels secure in her career. Due to the extraordinary growth of the company under her leadership, she has been named by the Financial Times as one of the 25 most influential women of 2022. The brand has had an inflection, according to Morgan Stanley analyst Edouard Aubin, with less black and white and more color, thus catering to a broader audience, he wrote in a note. Also, focus: In Paris, Ms. Bellettini lives in an apartment close to the 17th-century htel particulier on the Left Bank that serves as the companys creative core. You need to take a position sometimes, and you also need to give consumers things they dont even know that they want.. This has been a big strength during the pandemic, when tourism stopped. offers FT membership to read for free. Francesca Bellettini, the chief executive of Yves Saint Laurent, in Paris.CreditMarco Cella for The New York Times. Francesca Bellettini joined Kering in 2013. $ + tax Bellettini notes that tourists and local customers shop differently: tourists are in search of a better price but know what product they want, while locals are more selective. She studied economics and business administration at Bocconi University in Milan, spending five months at the University of Chicago as an exchange student in her senior year, which forced her to quickly improve the limited English she had learned at school. Bellettini took it to that level within a three-year period. The scientific advance could aid people with recent hearing loss. Although she may not be a fluent French speaker yet, she was awarded the French Knight of the Legion of Honour, the highest possible distinction for a civilian in the country, serves on the executive committee of France's Fdration de la Haute Couture et de la Mode, and in 2019 was elected president of the Chambre Syndicale de la Mode Fminine, the country's governing body for womenswear. Bellettini has overseen a radical rebranding, overhauling the company from within Image: Nico. organisation Bellettini is the kind of person who is goal driven and focusing on pushing forward towards that goal, said McInnes. In 2013, she became President and Chief Executive Officer of Yves Saint Laurent. Such praise is undoubtedly due, but Bellettinis work behind the scenes has been just as instrumental. Bellettini also believes that no job is a waste of time, even if we have to deal with bosses that we do not like. In the third quarter of 2021, Saint Laurent generated 22 per cent of its sales in Asia Pacific, versus 41 per cent for Gucci and 35 per cent for Bottega Veneta. What was missing from Saint Laurent in 2012 was not the business or the foundation, but the fashion authority and the clarity of the brand. As a luxury brand, you secure the best part of the leather. You may also opt to downgrade to Standard Digital, a robust journalistic offering that fulfils many users needs. On March 10th, hundreds of excited audience members watched the zoom stage open to reveal a sneak peek of the Yves Saint Laurent headquarters in Paris; sitting in her chic pantsuit and shining a wide smile was Francesca Bellettini, CEO of YSL. (In the third quarter, sales were up 28.1 per cent, while Kering sales were up 12.2 per cent) In 2020, when the pandemic hit, sales were down 13.8 percent while Kering sales were down 16.4 percent. Bloomberg Daybreak, anchored from New York, Boston, Washington DC and San Francisco provides listeners with everything they need to know. In 2008, she joined Bottega Veneta and became Worldwide Merchandising and Communications Director in 2010. 2016 Saint Laurent achieves 26 per cent year-on-year growth. Bloody hell!. Impressively, the executive has maintained the house's upward trajectorydespitethe departure of its star creative director The fired Google engineer who thought its A.I. She is determined never to panic or bow to public pressure out of fear. When she saw an article of clothing she really liked, she could not hold herself from saying I really liked that, without thinking about what her comments impact could be. This business model is something Bellettini argues helps the brand to get back to its core essence as a fashion house. What was truly striking, however, was when Bellettini explained her out-look on life: if Plan A fails, Plan B will never be a watered-down version; instead, both paths will take her down something remarkable and exciting. A dust-up occurred in 2015 during Mr. Slimanes tenure, when an ad featuring the young Dutch model Kiki Willems was censured and called irresponsible by Britains advertising watchdog agency because she looked excruciatingly thin. Escucha 'Nice to Meet You (Acoustic Live Solo)' de Francesca Michielin en Apple Music. An Italian woman who had never run a company, lived in Paris or learned the unwritten codes of French society, she was considered a strange choice to become chief executive of Yves Saint Laurent, the ultimate French brand, in 2013. Indeed, such a drastic identity change is usually a big no for established brands, but the audacious move came as part of a shake-up intended to give the brand some much-needed clarity. Life & Arts Saint Laurent CEO Francesca Bellettini on the making of a $1bn brand At the FT's Business of Luxury conference in San Francisco this week, the head of the French house with 26 per. Balance is also evident in Saint Laurents approach to its clientele and distribution. Bellettini said that rather than trying to craft a personality far from your true self in order to win the interview, authenticity is key. She doesnt wear hose even in the dead of winter. Today, the collections may not be identical, but the fact equal importance is placed on menswear and womenswear is something quite uncommon in the world of high fashion. Since 2012, Saint Laurent Paris, formerly known as Yves Saint Laurent, has boasted double-digit year-on-year growth. Saint Laurent opened its first flagship in China in 2019 and the network is being expanded in the country. Previously, she worked in Compass Partners International, UK from 1998 to 1999, in Deutsche Morgan Grenfell, UK from 1996 to 1998 and in Goldman Sachs . A record number of women made Britains rich list, Yves Saint Laurents chief exec talks about managing a successful fashion business, and in one area of Silicon Valley, women rule. It wasnt her first time in the line of fire, in any case. Moderated by Emma Rosenkranz 23, vice-president of Fashion@Brown, and Dani Siegal 24, social media coordinator, Ms. Bellettini gave an inspiring talk which spoke to her courage, integrity, and drive. Speakers like Victoria Beckham, Saint Laurent chief executive Francesca Bellettini, Balenciaga CEO Cdric Charbit and model Bella Hadid engaged with a variety of issues: technological disruption, developing sustainable practices and . ", The priority is to make sure the leather I use is sourced correctly. personalising content and ads, providing social media features and to We see with the store reopening worldwide, we have a lot of younger customers coming, people in their 20s, buying gifts, etc., she says. Check if your Cross selling requires more time. The brands glamorous, sleek aesthetic puts the house in a better position than brands betting on short term fashion trends in a pandemic when consumers seek investment pieces, says Mario Ortelli, managing director of Ortelli & Co. In a world of luxury where theres a shift towards more street, more pop culture, more logos and a very instant reading of our time, Saint Laurent remains faithful to its aesthetic and consistent in its vocabulary, says Institut Franais de la Mode professor Benjamin Simmenauer. When I met him, I was incredibly impressed that he was not at all afraid of the challenge. Flexibility has been another. A brand without clarity, at the end of the day, becomes just a commodity, said Bellettini at the Financial Times Business of Luxury conference in 2016. How Saint Laurent Became a $3 Billion Powerhouse. You may change or cancel your subscription or trial at any time online. Its a cascade. The only time that there is more women on the set as extras is a swimming pool scene and they're all in bikinisany swimming pool scene and suddenly it's full of women. This inspired Bellettini to, in 1999, join the Business Planning and Development division of the Prada group. Specifically, by handing greater autonomy and authority to local market chiefs, the brand has been able to connect far better with audiences in each region. She turned to her father for guidance. This is why we invested a lot in training. Over the last few years, this has hit high-end brands hard. He never frightens you, she said. Creative director Hedi Slimane left to take the reins of Celine and she recruited Vaccarello to succeed him. Although the virtual platform did not allow us to see the audience members, you could tell by Rosenkranz and Siegals faces that they were thoroughly moved by Bellettinis words.