Cédric Charbit, new CEO of Balenciaga at Saint Laurent Gianfranco Gianangeli, former CEO of Maison Margiela and currently commercial director of YSL, succeeds Cédric Charbit at Balenciaga.

A return to Saint Laurent for Cédric Charbit, who was executive vice president of product and marketing when he took over at Balenciaga eight years ago, a year after creative director Demna.

Once at the helm of Saint Laurent, he will have to face a revival of sales momentum against a backdrop of slowing luxury sales, particularly in China, and as inflation and high interest rates weigh on discretionary spending worldwide.

Prior to YSL, Charbit was deputy general manager at Emilio Pucci. Previously, the Frenchman held senior roles in retail – as general merchandise director for womenswear at Harrods in London and Printemps in Paris. A graduate of ESC Toulouse, he is appreciated for his fashion instinct and his complicity with designers.