Valentino Strengthens Leadership Team: Bellini Appoints Laurent Bergamo as Deputy CEO

Riccardo Bellini, CEO of Valentino since September 1st, is beginning to build his team at the helm of the Rome-based couture brand. The first move has been to appoint his right-hand man to the board of directors, with Laurent Bergamo taking over as deputy to the CEO, after two years as the company’s global sales director.

Laurent Bergamo joined Valentino in 2018, after fourteen years at Tod’s. His climb to the top within the Roman firm has been meteoric: two years as general manager in the Middle East division, three as CEO in the Americas and two as chief commercial officer.

In addition to this appointment, Davide Tosi has been appointed as general merchandising manager. He comes to Valentino from Gucci, where he served for three years as president for Europe, Middle East and Africa.

Laurent Bergamo appointed deputy to Valentino’s CEO by Riccardo Bellini

Valentino is continuing in 2025 the process of rationalizing its wholesale channel that began last year, when it reduced this segment by around 20%. The strategy aims to strengthen control over distribution and increase selectivity, but it is having a direct impact on the performance of the business at the end of the year.

According to market sources, the company would be recording double-digit revenue declines in 2025, a performance that makes it difficult for Mayhoola to exercise the put option initially planned for 2026. The operating performance thus becomes a determining factor for the Italian company’s corporate calendar.

Kering and Mayhoola announced in September that Valentino’s ownership structure will not change before 2028. This is a revision of the pact signed in 2023, when the French group took a minority stake in the company.

Two years ago, Kering acquired 30% of Valentino for €q1.7 billion, as part of a broader deal with the Qatari fund. That pact included the option for Kering to buy 100% of the capital in 2028 and for Mayhoola to become a shareholder of the French group. With the recent revision, Mayhoolaa’s put options are deferred to 2028 and 2029 (previously 2026-2027), while Kering’s call option is also deferred by one year, to 2029.