Please read the following ONLY if you are interested in a rumour from circa 2016 never confirmed whatsoever, but here I go:
someone told me that one of the reasons behind the Hedi-Kering split up was that his Saint Laurent was doing so well that it was about to become the first house of the group, surpassing Gucci, and Kering didn't want that.
Now, beyond the accuracy of this (I doubt that a group would intentionally frein the growth of a brand only because of strategycal positioning), the fact that such rumour was circulating in Paris gives an idea of how big turned Saint Laurent under Hedi.
And he waited almost three years till he made his Celine debut, way beyond the non compete.
Sorry for the "someone told me...", I know it is low quality posting 😅
Hedi will come back if he is one hundred percent convinced, not to fill one of the available positions remaining.
P.S. Fashion is more fun with Hedi than without Hedi.