Luca De Meo Quits As Renault CEO To Join Luxury Goods Giant Kering

Renault CEO Luca De Meo announced his shock resignation effective June 15, 2025.

Luca De Meo, CEO of Renault, made a shock resignation announcement earlier today. In a brief statement issued by the French automaker, it says that the 58-year-old Italian has reportedly stepped down from said role effective June 15, 2025.

Based on several reports online, the De Meo has elected to leave the French automaker to “pursue new challenges outside the automotive sector.” Adding to which, various news outlets also report his switch to join and lead luxury goods giant Kering.

Additionally, Renault’s board of directors has reportedly initiated the process of appointing a new CEO “based on the already defined succession plan”,  read its official statement.

The 58-year-old Italian previously led Volkswagen-owned Seat as its chairman before joining Renault in July 2020.

Whilst you may not have heard of Kering, you may at least heard – or perhaps purchased products – from some of its key luxury brands. Amongst them are Gucci, Yves Saint Laurent, Balenciaga, Alexander McQueen, as well as Bottega Veneta, to name a few.

De Meo’s exit comes five years after he first joined and helmed the automaker in July 2020. Prior to which, he was part of the massive Volkswagen Group where he serves as chairman of Seat.

Additionally, various sources online report that De Meo will soon join and lead luxury good giant Kering - owners of key brands like Gucci, Balenciaga, and Yves Saint Laurent.

“Under his leadership, our company has returned to a healthy foundation, boasts an impressive range of products and has resumed growth. Besides being an exceptional captain of industry, Luca de Meo is also a creative, committed, passionate and inspiring individual,” remarked Renault Group chairman Jean-Dominique Senard in a prepared statement.

“At Renault Group, we have faced immense challenges in less than five years! We have achieved what many thought impossible. Today, the results speak for themselves: they are the best in our history… I am leaving a transformed company, poised for the future, to apply my experience to other sectors and embark on new adventures,” de Meo added.

With his exit, questions have now arisen regarding the future of the French automaker’s Formula 1 racing programme. De Meo is touted as the architect of the project, which carries the Alpine banner – Renault’s revived sportscar sub-brand.

With De Meo's exit, questions have arisen about the fate of Renault's Alpine F1 racing programme.

Controversially, part of De Meo’s decision of late on this front saw the winding down of the Alpine F1 engine programme. This, in turn, sees the Alpine F1 team forfeit its works status by end of this season to become Mercedes-AMG engine customers instead.

It is widely believed that De Meo spearheaded said move with compatriot – and equally controversial figure – Flavio Briatore towards gradually making the team easier to sell. However, both Italian execs had repeatedly shot down and denied this notion.