@PDFSD Susanna is on fire on linkedin lol ...girl is on fire eh
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Dear Monsieur Pinault,
Some of the press is virtually asking your “head” as the CEO of
Kering because of the disappointing results of the group. I disagree on this.
This might come as a surprise for some, but I am a brand and business strategist, not a "shooter" as some lazy commentator can define me. I embrace critical analysis to highlight issues that need to be solved as soon as possible before they turn a pebble into an avalanche. On Kering I have been openly very critical on the strategy since 2015 and I was right on all the key points highlighted. I have also worked for Kering and we crossed paths.
The Group results are weak since too long. We are in very challenging times but, at this point, a captain and major shareholder cannot and should not leave the boat. This could be a very negative message to the markets and the stock exchange.
What Kering should do, then?
The "brand elevation" strategy announced in 2024 didn't work, also because it was not clear nor precisely executed, despite the stellar rankings scored by Gucci following some research agencies...
First things first is to secure the group and keep it standing in 2025.
At the same time a full assessment by external professionals with no conflict of interest on organization, financials and most of all group brand portfolio is a must. Kering executives team has been unable so far to support the business, how can they do it now when it is nosediving? The first line of managers needs to be re-assessed, based on the facts and figures I learned from Jean-Marc Duplaix and Alexis Babeau. That was a great school to me: facts and figures. Yes/no. Patience is not a key asset in these days, markets and stock exchange have waited for too long.
A statement showing awareness of the issues and the will to set up a committee working with you personally to re-write the history of the group is necessary. This is the message that is expected. Not that you are leaving.
This is the only way to start re-creating trust: showing real actions that are part of a global strategy.
The
hashtag#fashion and
hashtag#luxury industry cannot bear a collapse of Kering and the group's crisis puts the entire system at risk.
Kering under your guide can become the laboratory for the business model of the industry of the near future, instead. But action must be quick to rebuild trust and credibility.
Being open to admit mistakes, working with external professionals focusing on the real state of the business, taking full accountability of the case and setting up clear plans, actions and leverages will give oxygen to the markets that need to be reassured in a different way from the past.
We want Kering (I was at the group ceremony at La Conciergerie for the launch of "Kering", I know what it means) to survive and thrive. It takes courage, vision and assertiveness to drive this chapter. And different managers with long term growth mindset.
It's not a mission impossible but radical change has to be put in place urgently
Yours truly
S.
while lots and lots of employees who aren’t at senior level just lose their jobs..crazy times we live in 
