From Pomellato to Kering Italy: Sabina Belli takes the helm of the group's Italian network
From September 15, 2026, Sabina Belli will assume the role of president of Kering Italy, while also continuing to lead the Kering Accademia per le Eccellenze.
After more than ten years leading Pomellato, this appointment moves an executive with deep roots in the jewellery sector to the core of the group's industrial and institutional ecosystem. This is a political and strategic move as Kering seeks to secure its manufacturing base and Italian craftsmanship.
Kering is shifting its focus in Italy. The group has appointed Sabina Belli as president of its Italian subsidiary, where she will report directly to managing director Luca de Meo. This move signals a departure from a purely institutional role. Her mission will be to streamline dialogue with public authorities and industry associations. She will also oversee crucial projects in training, innovation and industrial sustainability.
Sabina Belli's career path explains this decision. She joined Kering in 2015 to lead the Pomellato group, following positions at L'Oréal Luxe and LVMH, including Dior Parfums, Veuve Clicquot and Bulgari. Today, she transitions from a brand-focused role to a regional one.
A presidency tailored for the group's operational core
Italy is home to the majority of Kering's industrial footprint. The country is home to more than a quarter of the group's global workforce. It also serves as the creative and logistical hub for several of its flagship brands, including Gucci; Bottega Veneta; Brioni; Pomellato; DoDo; Ginori 1735 and Kering Eyewear. Luca de Meo described Sabina Belli as a bridge-builder between the corporate world, education and the public sector, highlighting a key priority for the group.
For Kering, managing brands in Italy is no longer sufficient. The group must now preserve the industrial ecosystem that enables production, recruitment and manufacturing. This appointment builds on the strategic shift from last April, when the group appointed her to lead the Kering Accademia per le Eccellenze. This transdisciplinary training hub—covering leather goods, jewellery and tailoring while integrating AI and future materials—will launch its first courses this month.
Sabina Belli is therefore moving from the day-to-day management of a brand's P&L to a direct role within the group's production network.
Industry behind the brands: responding to the skills challenge
This internal reshuffle aligns with the simplification and operational efficiency plan championed by Luca de Meo since spring 2026. Italy is the cornerstone of this plan, uniting suppliers, partner workshops, artisans and logistics infrastructure. The new president's mandate focuses on creating public-private partnerships. It aims to protect the competitiveness of Italy's luxury ecosystem, which is currently under pressure from a skills shortage. Luxury houses face a critical bottleneck. They must continue to market the rarity of artisanal craftsmanship while simultaneously preventing a shortage of skilled labour.
By combining the preservation of craftsmanship with the integration of new technologies, the Kering Accademia aims to modernise its approach without compromising its heritage. This is far from a simple ambassadorial role. The presidency entrusted to Sabina Belli is essentially a political role, in the most industrial sense of the word. Kering is bringing jewellery, the Italian influence network and the group's training apparatus under her leadership. In doing so, the group places a seasoned expert at the precise intersection of its brands and its value chain.