PARIS: Gucci creative director Alessandro Michele is leaving Kering's star label after seven years, a source said on Wednesday, confirming earlier reports.
Kering was expected to swiftly confirm the news officially, the source said, adding that there had been tensions between the designer and Kering's top management.
Both Kering and Gucci declined to comment.
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Women's Wear Daily (WWD), citing unnamed sources, first announced Michele's departure in a report overnight.
Kering shares opened up 2% on Wednesday, before giving up gains, with analysts saying that a new designer may help to revive sales. They were down 0.7% in early afternoon trading.
"After seven years in charge of Gucci's creative engine, it may well be time for a change, and consensus amongst institutional investors appears to be forming that a new approach is required to reignite the brand," RBC analysts said in a note.
"Overall, the notion of change in creative lead at Gucci is likely to be viewed positively by the market, and in Kering's share price," they added.
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Michele, a former accessories designer who took on the top creative role at Gucci in 2015, is credited with reviving the label's popularity with flamboyant and gender-fluid styles.
Alongside CEO Marco Bizzarri, he oversaw a period of soaring growth between 2015 and 2019, with profits increasing nearly four-fold and revenue almost trebling.
But in recent quarters, Gucci, which accounts for the bulk of Kering's profits, has begun to lag its peers, with its performance in the key Chinese market becoming a source of concern for investors.
WWD quoted one source as saying Michele had been asked "to initiate a strong design shift" to light a fire under the brand, and that the designer did not meet the request. The WWD report said that Kering's chairman and CEO François-Henri Pinault, was looking at a change of pace for the brand.
"Gucci is in the middle of a complex transition aimed at elevating the brand," said Citi analyst Thomas Chauvet.
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"While Kering management has historically been patient on executing turnarounds, the nomination of a new designer could accelerate the pace of change and redefine the brand's aesthetics."
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