Kering appoints Federico Arrigoni as CEO of Brioni

The executive reshuffle continues at Kering. The group has announced changes at the helm of two of its houses: Federico Arrigoni, deputy CEO of Saint Laurent, will take over as CEO of Brioni, while Mehdi Benabadji, who has led Brioni since 2020, will move to Ginori 1735. 

In his new role, Arrigoni is tasked with “further strengthening Brioni’s global positioning and increasing the brand’s appeal and success.”

“I am proud to see Federico becoming CEO of Brioni,” said Francesca Bellettini, Kering’s deputy CEO in charge of brand development, to whom Arrigoni will report. “I trust that his extensive knowledge of the industry and his strong international experience make him the best profile to drive Brioni into the next phase of its development, building on the House’s remarkable history and achievements.”

Bellettini previously worked closely with Arrigoni during her time leading Saint Laurent.

An Italian national, Arrigoni joined Kering in 2006 through Gucci, where he held roles in human resources before moving to Saint Laurent in 2015. There, he held a series of senior positions—first as HR director, then as president of Asia Pacific in 2020, later taking on global commercial responsibilities, before being appointed deputy CEO in July 2023.

Earlier in his career, Arrigoni began at Decathlon in 1996, progressing through management roles in retail. He joined Autogrill in 2002 as head of HR, then transitioned into luxury in 2004 as head of HR for Europe at Dolce & Gabbana.

Mehdi Benabadji, who led Brioni since 2020, “brings to Ginori 1735 a strong track record in strategic transformation and international development,” Kering noted.

Under his leadership, Brioni underwent a successful operational restructuring and recorded strong growth momentum, reinforcing its position within the men’s luxury ready-to-wear landscape.

At Ginori 1735, he will report to Jean-Marc Duplaix, deputy CEO and chief operations officer of Kering. His mission will be to guide the historic Florentine porcelain manufacturer into its next phase of expansion and further elevate its position in the global luxury lifestyle and homeware segment.

Before taking the helm at Brioni, Benabadji built a longstanding career within Kering, which he joined in 2003. From 2012 and 2019, he held several key executive roles, including director of operations in charge of integrated logistics and industrial activities. A graduate of ESSEC Business School, he began his professional journey in 1995 as a consultant, advising various luxury houses before joining the group led by François-Henri Pinault.