Mr Saint Laurent himself said in the 70s: Why should we change a product when its already perfect? So, those people who were criticising the fact that some of our products were recurring and that we had a permanent collection probably didnt remember that it was actually part of the DNA of the brand, Bellettini told BoF. university (Personal luxury goods sales dropped 22 per cent at the time, according to a Bain Altagamma study.) After graduation, she moved to New York for a training program with Goldman Sachs, then to London to work with its Italian mergers and acquisitions team. She joined Kering in 2003 as Strategic Planning Director and Associate Worldwide Merchandising Director of Gucci. During tumultuous economic periods, purse strings are naturally tightened and non-essential purchases are forgone, including luxuries. The ads were displayed on about 250 kiosks in France, mainly in Paris, and in fashion magazines; the open-legged ad was splashed on a large billboard along the route to Paris from Charles de Gaulle airport. It was pissing me off a little bit, she said. Saint Laurent opened its first flagship in China in 2019 and the network is being expanded in the country. The oldest executive at Kering SA is Baudouin Prot, 69, who is the Director. But the largest companies in Silicon Valley are trying to change that, using virtual sports platforms to drive adoption and profit in this new world. He met with Ms. Bellettini secretly, and after several interviews, including one with Franois-Henri Pinault, Kerings chairman and chief executive, was offered the job. Francesca Bellettini CEO Saint Laurent Future After Hedi Slimane Bellettini was non-hesitant to her reply: That is easy, my team. You could feel the powerful connection Bellettini shares with her team; We work a lot and we also have a lot of fun, she said noting how important this is when working endless hours together. In his place, Bellettini appointed Anthony Vaccarello, a young designer who had previously been successful at Versus Versace. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. It got everyone talking about Saint Laurent again, and also increased brand awareness with a younger audience those future loyal customers the key to brand longevity., As well as it eventually turned out for the brand, at the time few could have predicted the success Saint Laurent would enjoy as a result of the overhaul. We talk a lot about strategy, where we want to go. As she explained on Monday at the Financial Times Business of Luxury Summit in San Francisco in conversation with the paper's Fashion Editor Jo Ellison, Bellettini believes strongly in giving a. Leather goods represents the lions share of Saint Laurents sales (71 per cent of the business in 2020), which puts it in the league of brands with the highest percentage. Alex Murdaughs Trial Lasted Six Weeks. The Italian executive, who took over the Kering -owned brand in 2013 and has since overseen a tripling of its sales, was joined by family, colleagues and members of the Saint Laurent galaxy at the. Not long after the name change, the company continued its transformation by appointing Bellettini as its new CEO, replacing Paul Deneuve, who changed industries to work under Apple CEO Tim Cook. 787 Francesca Le Photos and Premium High Res Pictures - Getty Images All Entertainment News Archival Browse 787 francesca le stock photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. Simply log into Settings & Account and select "Cancel" on the right-hand side. Definitely the sensitivity of people and their ability to speak out is much bigger than before, she said. Ms. Bellettini, an executive director at Bottega Veneta, will succeed Paul Deneve, who is leaving to join Apple Inc. after just two years at the fashion label. Though she declined to disclose a more ambitious goal herself, industry sources say it wants to become a 5 billion brand in time. This generation doesnt appreciate being considered a target. Francesca Bellettini (FB): Saint Laurent's retail performances in China absolutely surpassed the pre-COVID-19 situation, boosted by Chinese consumers buying locally. Francesca Bellettini - Biography - MarketScreener.com Right now, Bellettini is actively trying to learn French with the goal of becoming an Okay French speaker by the end of 2021. PARIS Francesca Bellettini doesnt style her hair. Nowadays, I see that the consumer approaches Saint Laurent from every product category depending on what they want, said Bellettini to BoF. Indeed, Bellettini believes having a permanent collection is vital in ensuring brand awareness and recruiting customers, particularly given around 70 percent of customers each year are new. Francesca Bellettini (born 18 April 1970) is an Italian business woman. President and Chief Executive Officer, Yves Saint Laurent. This is made possible through a leadership style that is confident, but trusting. Francesca Bellettini began her career in London as an investment banker, working at Goldman Sachs International, Deutsche Morgan Grenfell and Compass Partners International. 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. Francesca Bellettini, chief exec of fast-growing Yves Saint Laurent, Gina Miller, co-founder of investment boutique SCM Private, has campaigned against sneaky chargesin the asset management market. To win local customers, Saint Laurent invested in sales staff training. It isn't easy. The rue de Bellechasse headquarters was the idea of Francesca Bellettini, president and CEO of Yves Saint Laurent. Later, at the investment bank Deutsche Morgan Grenfell in London, she helped pitched deals to luxury fashion houses, and in the process met Patrizio Bertelli, chief executive of the Prada Group. Working with her is enriching, Mr. Vaccarello said. The creative director responded to Bellettini with, So you did not like the rest? Bellettini drew attention to how important it is to respect designers and understand the pressure they have on their shoulders. Con Romy Schneider, Donald Houston, Dennis Waterman, Patricia Brake. The companys enviable performance can, in large extent, be attributed to a drastic and unexpected rebranding. Powered and implemented by Interactive Data Managed Solutions. Biography of Francesca Bellettini - The Official Board Thats critical: Saint Laurent doesnt give into trends, not even to court the sought-after Gen Z customer. The event ended with this final question: what is the greatest piece of advice you can share to the audience? Bellettini explained that she was not afraid: I am Italian, I can speak with my hands, I would figure it out. Bellettini, Rosenkranz, and Siegal shared a laugh at this response. In 1999, he offered her a job as part of Pradas then-new business development division. Kering's third-quarter earnings presentation mentions a continued appeal to younger generations. Francesca Bellettini, Yves St Laurent SA: Profile and Biography - Bloomberg Markets Subscribe Live Now Bloomberg TV+ Power Players:Chris Robshaw Bloomberg Radio Bloomberg Daybreak Asia. In his place, Bellettini appointed Anthony Vaccarello, a young designer who had previously been successful at Versus Versace. During the later stages of the conversation, when asked about the secrets of her success, she elaborated on how the relationship between the creative and business parts of a fashion brand is the single most important factor. All rights reserved. Bellettini has achieved this global reach through a keen focus on developing local markets. Francesca was Worldwide Merchandising and Communications director at Bottega Veneta, and Strategic Planning & Associate Worldwide Merchandising Director at Gucci. Twenty-nine years old is a little early to do a job for money. 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. Londons Investment Appeal Is Unraveling as Arm Heads to the US, UN report: Modern weapons being smuggled to Haiti from US, British Parents Turn to Home Equity to Help Young Buy Property, Sorry, Fed, Most US Mortgage Rates Were Locked in During Pandemic Lows, Fed Says MoreRate Hikes Are Needed to Curb Inflation. Saint Laurent wanted to be a billion-dollar company. When he bought himself a honey-colored bulldog puppy at Christmas, he bought one in black for her. 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 will succeed current chief executive Paul Deneve, who after two years at the head of the luxury fashion label is leaving for a position in the technology industry in California . Her obsession is paying off. It is Bellettinis commitment to balance in this regard, as much as the brands DNA, that has pushed Saint Laurent to excel in both collections, achieving double-digit growth in a sluggish market. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Customer Service. You will be charged 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. Francesca Bellettini Receives France's Legion of Honor - WWD Opinion: No Country for Alzheimers Patients, Opinion: Common Sense Points to a Lab Leak, Opinion: A Nikki Haley and Vivek Ramaswamy Victory, Opinion: Overruling the District of Columbia on Crime. Simmenauer adds that the brands handbags in particular are timeless and well priced. Follow Bloomberg reporters as they uncover some of the biggest financial crimes of the modern era. The brand also completely stopped making public markdowns during the pandemic. Their brand offers an escape to people, which during this unparalleled time in our world, is vital. At the forefront of this strategy is balance. Francesca Bellettini began her career in London as an investment banker, working at Goldman Sachs International, Deutsche Morgan Grenfell and Compass Partners International. 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Some people dont believe it, but Anthony was the only one I met for the job.. of Saint Laurent, she was the first name on my list, Mr. Pinault said. Comedienne Amy Schumer makes the cover of Vanity Fair, Trump supporters sell 'Trump That Bitch' t-shirts depicting Hillary Clinton as the businessman candidatestruggles to attract female voters, Women will grace 5 pound and 10 pound notes in Scotland, Howa woman rose to senior product manager from customer support at Etsy, Fire departments in the U.S. turn to women volunteers, Designer Christine Kendall sues Alexander McQueen over Duchess of Cambridge's wedding dress, actress Helen Mirren, reflecting on a lack of roles for women in movies. She joined the famous Parisian house, replacing Paul Deneuve, at a crucial time in its development. Francesca Bellettini has achieved the impossible with Saint Laurent. It helps that were open, that we tend to smile, that we have this funny accent, she said, smiling. , who was succeeded by Anthony Vacarello in April 2016. When she arrived from another Kering brand, Bottega Veneta, in 2013, the. 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. Already, as soon as Vaccarello arrived, they had made the decision to always wait one year to mark down the current collection. Francesca Bellettini a star at Saint Laurent | Financial Times Having crossed the $1 billion in sales threshold in 2017, the brand isa star performer in parent companyKerings luxury portfolio. In 1977, following the meeting with her husband Bertelli who is still her right-hand today, Miuccia quickly revolutionized the concept of Haute Couture, introducing the concept of sportiness in a world that previously looked at it as a parallel universe. This is why we are less vocal. Francesca Bellettini joined Kering in 2013. Saint Laurent CEO Francesca Bellettini's big ambitions Saint Laurent is the new rising star at Kering. Plan A was to study Business Administration at Bocconi University and follow her dream of running a company. We dont do it to sell an extra bag. I am very proud because our sales associates feel their efforts can make a difference. This has been a big strength during the pandemic, when tourism stopped. In 1999, she joined the Business Planning and Development division of the Prada group, and later became Operations Manager for Helmut Lang. According to the fashion house's CEO, Francesca Bellettini, the Vaccarello era at the fashion house will be a . Got some news on an exceptional woman? The scientific advance could aid people with recent hearing loss. Standard Digital includes access to a wealth of global news, analysis and expert opinion. Eileen Fisher is trying to raise the bar for sustainable fashion. Saint Laurent still has white space to open stores, develop in Asia and reinforce cross-selling across product categories, says Ortelli. It was drastic, said McInnes. Exclusive: Step Inside YSL's New Parisian Headquarters - WSJ It is only then can we find long-term joy and success. 2016 Saint Laurent achieves 26 per cent year-on-year growth. analyse how our Sites are used. 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. This has raised the bar for each and every one of us. Compare Standard and Premium Digital here. Sexy concepts First of all fashion, in Bellettinis words, can transform you into a dreamer. Bellettini says: The work that Anthony has been doing in terms of diversity of age, sex, gender, color, body type, as judged on a 360 basis, has been quite impressive, still being able to communicate the brand. Now Dravida, also the firm's chief executive, is conducting research trials to treat a number of debilitatingconditions, including rheumatoid arthritis, muscular dystrophy, and stroke. This, Bellettini maintains, also translates to improved business from travellers a key strategy given the huge potential of travel retail. How Anthony Vaccarello and Francesca Bellettini took Saint Laurent to Any changes made can be done at any time and will become effective at the end of the trial period, allowing you to retain full access for 4 weeks, even if you downgrade or cancel. Francesca Bellettini is 50, she's been the President and Chief Executive Officer of Yves Saint Laurent and Member of the Executive Committee of Kering SA since 2015. One of the few female CEOs leading a fashion brand, Francesca Bellettini started her career as an investment banker before switching industries. By Laure Guilbault November 15, 2021 Courtesy of Saint Laurent 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. Saint Laurent is the second largest Kering house (representing 13 per cent of the group sales) behind Gucci. Francesca Bellettini: The Powerhouse Behind the Billion-Dollar Brand Change the plan you will roll onto at any time during your trial by visiting the Settings & Account section. For me, this is a balance between creativity, merchandising and business, added Bellettini. It earned the brand criticisms. This massage technique is attracting fans across Hollywood, including Ariana Grande, Kourtney Kardashian and Sean Diddy Combs. One featured a model in a fur jacket and fishnet tights reclining with her legs spread wide open; the other, a model in a leotard and roller-skate stilettos bending over a stool. Her father, whom she adored, was an accountant at a lumber company; her mother, a school administrator. She doesnt use mascara or foundation. Quick to smile at everyone, even in a smile-stingy city like Paris, she is also famously calm and loath to second-guess herself or her team. But she did not pull the ads. In 1999, she joined the Business Planning and Development division of the Prada group, and later became Operations Manager for Helmut Lang. 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. It was an anecdote from the early times of her career when she attended a meeting. You need to take a position sometimes, and you also need to give consumers things they dont even know that they want.. Francesca Bellettini, Luxury Fashion Leader - Bloomberg Whilst at the Italian leather goods and ready-to-wear brand, also owned by Kering, Bellettini oversaw merchandising, visual display and communications and was instrumental in the brands repositioning and popularity in emerging markets. Cathy Chai left her steady job in financeat a UN agencyin Beijing for a finance gig at Medecins San Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders) in war-torn South Sudan. Nice to Meet You (Acoustic Live Solo) de Francesca Michielin Sustainability, another pressing topic for fashion brands to consider alongside growth, is a priority, Bellettini says. Francesca Bellettini - Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Con Laetitia Casta, Mathieu Amalric, Pierre Arditi, Nomie Lvovsky. Consumers realised it and since the offer was already well-developed, they could find it in stores.. At present, 15 percent of Saint Laurents global customer base is in Europe, 20 percent is in China, 15 percent is in Japan, 20 percent is in the rest of Asia, and 17 percent is in the US, with the remainder spread throughout the rest of the world. The rebranding brought with it a more refined, heightened sense of elegance and luxury, reaffirming Saint Laurent as one of the worlds preeminent luxury fashion brands.. Parent company Kerings 2016 results, for example, revealed the brands comparable revenue surged by an astonishing 33.9 percent across all product categories and geographic regions. View the profiles of people named Francesca Bellettini. Saint Laurent wanted to be a billion-dollar company. OXFORDSHIRE, United Kingdom These days, Saint Laurent chief executive Francesca Bellettini spends more time fielding questions about her former colleague, current Celine creative director Hedi Slimane, than she would perhaps like. She sure is a powerhouse woman running a billion-dollar brand. This is to ensure the offer is reflecting the current vision of the brand. She is determined never to panic or bow to public pressure out of fear. 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. A seasonless strategy favouring evolution over revolution has hammered home the brand's message to consumers. Together they weathered a storm of public opprobrium last March, when Frances advertising watchdog asked Saint Laurent to modify two ads created by Mr. Vaccarello after receiving dozens of complaints that they degraded women. 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. All rights reserved. Bellettini has overseen a radical rebranding, overhauling the company from within Image: Nico. 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. But I dont have to do something to please someone or some client.. FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. 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. But she does believe in learning from mistakes. Francesca Bellettini | Kering In 2013, she became President and Chief Executive Officer of Yves Saint Laurent. Already a member? The looks Anthony does for the shows are incredibly complete jewellery, shoes, etc. To receive the Vogue Business newsletter, sign up here. Notable for Saint Laurent under Bellettini is its leather business. All Rights Reserved. Francesca Le Photos and Premium High Res Pictures - Getty Images Francesca Bellettini with creative director Anthony Vaccarello and Franois-Henri Pinault, chairman and chief executive of Kering "That is something that you learn in banking," she adds.. 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. Despite this, Bellettini stated that they are stronger than ever as a brand. With the house on track to end 2021 with sales over 2 billion, CEO Francesca Bellettini believes the brand can rise even further. and other data for a number of reasons, such as keeping FT Sites reliable and secure, Because in each and every one of them, we offer a balanced collection, from entry level to higher price points, and from different occasions and views. Saint Laurent Paris is consistent throughout, from manufacturing to customer service, with every employee at every level aware of the brand identity and carrying on their jobs with a full understanding of the story they are telling.. And she had done it all while navigating the departure of Saint Laurents star designer, Hedi Slimane, and the transition to a relatively low-key unknown, Anthony Vaccarello, a change of creative leadership that had the industry predicting disaster for the brand. Bellettini appointed Anthony Vaccarello as creative director in 2016. Escucha 'Nice to Meet You (Acoustic Live Solo)' de Francesca Michielin en Apple Music. Anthony Vaccarello has nearly finished giving a tour of the just-opened 140,000-square-foot headquarters of fashion house Yves Saint Laurent in a tony corner of Pariss seventh arrondissement when, heading toward the exit, he says hes saved his favorite part for last. Im obsessed with two things: local customers and comp growth, says Bellettini. When describing why she chose Goldman Sachs International over other companies, she said that the company felt like a family. I knew that she had the qualities needed for the job: first, a strong personality and the ability to dedicate herself entirely to her mission without any hesitation; second, the capability to quickly understand what makes this maison so special and to endorse it and indeed, she adapted very quickly to Saint Laurent in a key moment of its history., Mr. Pinault called me to Paris one Friday afternoon, Ms. Bellettini recalled. This business model is something Bellettini argues helps the brand to get back to its core essence as a fashion house. Francesca Bellettini is an Italian businessperson who has been the head of 8 different companies and currently is Chairman at Yves Saint Laurent of Monaco, Chairman of Yves Saint Laurent Parfums SAS, Chairman & President of Yves Saint Laurent SAS, Chairman at Yves Saint Laurent Logistica SRL, Chairman for SL Luxury Retail SRL, Chairman at Yves Saint Laurent Spain SA, Chairman of Yves Saint . From 1999 until 2002, Ms. Bellettini worked in the Prada Group, Italy, first in the Planning and New Business Development Division of Prada and, in 2002, as Operations Manager of Helmut Lang. Indeed, this focus on gender parity has been a key element of the brand since the very start, with Saint Laurent himself believing men and women should wear the same clothes. Ms. Bellettini said that she received a stream of hate emails, including one calling her a whore. Good morning, WMPW readers! Silicon Valley always seems to be abuzz about the limited number of womenin the tech industry. Check if your What did they know? At a time when other Kering brands including Alexander McQueen and Gucci dabble in resale, Saint Laurent stays away from it; at a time when gaming takes fashion by storm, Saint Laurent doesnt jump on the bandwagon. She worked at Prada and Helmut Lang prior to. Even when stores were closed, we did a lot of e-learning about how to sell the different product categories together, she says. While she was working as an investment banker, the fashion industry was flourishing. Her extensive managerial experience in the fashion industry precedes her time at Bottega Veneta;she previously was a merchandising director at Gucci, operations manager at Helmut Lang, and has also held various positions at Prada.