The CEO of Bottega Veneta Bartolomeo ‘Leo’ Rongone will step down as CEO on March 31, 2026, ending a six-year term that reshaped Italy’s economy. “quiet luxury” brand to become one of Kering’s most resilient commercial engines. His departure marks a crucial career change and strategic reconfiguration at one of Italy’s most watched luxury houses.
Effective April 1, 2026, Leo Rongone will assume the role of Group Chief Executive Officer at Moncler, succeeding Remo Ruffini. Ruffini will transition to executive chairman while retaining creative and strategic influence. The announcement highlights a broader industry trend in which operational leadership and creative cohesion must coexist amid a more complex global luxury market.
A strategic change in luxury leadership
Ronone comes over from Bottega Veneta, as Moncler Group announces a new organizational structure. https://t.co/ggJY6B47bO
— Vogue Magazine (@voguemagazine) January 20, 2026
Rongone’s departure comes as luxury brands face a prolonged demand plateau in key markets such as North America and China. Yet affluent consumers continue to value craftsmanship and exclusivity. At Bottega Veneta, Ronone navigated high-stakes transitions Daniel Lee’s departure to the appointment of Louise Trotter—helping grow revenue from approximately €1.12 billion in 2019 to approximately €1.7 billion in 2024.
CEO of Kering Luca de Meo publicly thanked Ronone “for his leadership and the important contribution he has made to Bottega Veneta,” He acknowledges his role in maintaining momentum amid broader industry headwinds. The house has already started a search for his successor.
For Moncler, this move represents a priority shift toward professionalizing executive leadership while maintaining the brand ethos. In announcing Rongone’s appointment, Moncler described the change as part of a governance evolution intended to support long-term development and a smooth generational transition. Ruffini, the architect of Moncler’s rise, will remain at the helm of creative direction while stepping away from day-to-day operations.
Bartolomeo Rongone’s track record at Bottega Veneta
When Leo Rongone took the helm of Bottega Veneta in 2019, the fashion landscape was already in flux. Sales of luxury goods were impacted by changing consumer expectations and digital acceleration. He arrived with a resume full of operational leadership, having held roles at Fendi and later as Chief Operating Officer at Yves Saint Laurent.
At Bottega Veneta, Ronone aligned commercial imperatives with a refined aesthetic ethos. The brand’s signature intrecciato leatherwork “quiet luxury” positioning – eschewing overt logos in favor of discreet sophistication – resonated with affluent consumers seeking understated elegance. Under his leadership, the house achieved consistent organic growth even as peers struggled with volatility.
In recent years, Bottega’s performance has stood out within Kering’s selection. While some labels struggled with weakness in Western markets, Bottega reported a 3% increase in sales in the third quarter of 2025 alone. Yet the brand’s transition also reflected a larger industry dynamic: Daniel Lee’s departure in 2022 and subsequent leadership recalibrations challenged the brand’s narrative, making management agility as crucial as the creative vision.
Moncler’s bold move: professionalization and growth
Moncler hired Bartolomeo “Leo” Rongone as CEO and brought in a seasoned executive from luxury rival Kering to strengthen management and support growth https://t.co/fx1o0fAjWf
— Bloomberg (@company) January 21, 2026
For Moncler, the arrival of Leo Ronone marks a conscious turn towards stronger management and operational depth. Founded as an innovator of alpine outerwear, Moncler expanded under Ruffini’s leadership into a diversified luxury house known for its inventive collaborations. The brand’s global retail strategy remains aggressive and highly visible.
Under the new structure, Ruffini’s role as executive chairman will ensure that creative momentum and strategic direction remain anchored in his vision. At the same time, Rongone will drive the CEO agenda. Moncler’s recent decisions, including the cancellation of its annual Genius event for 2026 and a sharpened focus on the US market, indicate a shifting marketing and cultural calculus.
Financially, analysts view Rongone’s appointment as a stabilizing catalyst. Barclays noted that Ronone might be ‘less known to the public’ his luxury leadership experience aligns with Moncler’s values and supports its long-term development. The company also forecasts modest sales growth through 2025.
Moncler’s shares registered a slight dip after the announcement, a common market response to leadership transitions. Yet this move also underlines investors’ expectations for a seamless integration of business and creative strategy.
Market reaction and sector implications
Luxury executives have become focal points in broader stories of brand resilience and strategic agility. Rongone’s move from Bottega to Moncler marks an era in which the industry is redefining leadership success beyond the headlines. As creative directors craft cultural stories, CEOs are increasingly judged on their ability to navigate macroeconomic headwinds and maintain brand cohesion.
Analysts note that the shift reflects a broader industry pattern: Homes are now seeking leaders who can protect brand DNA while scaling growth across omnichannel landscapes. Management turnover across the sector has underlined similar tensions between creative innovation and commercial discipline.
Leo Rongone joins Moncler at a time when the brand’s direct-to-consumer channels and diversified product lines are both assets and strategic challenges. To succeed, he must understand not only the cultural lexicon of high fashion, but also the retail economy and digital engagement.
Creative versus business: the new luxury balance
Ronone’s appointment crystallizes a perennial question in the luxury fashion world: Can a brand maintain cultural relevance while scaling operations in a fragmented market? Under Ruffini, Moncler’s identity was based on technical innovation and lifestyle appeal. Now operational leadership will be tested on supply chain resilience and regional sales diversification.
Rongone’s leadership playbook, honed through operational roles and refined at Bottega Veneta, positions him as a bridge between creative ambition and commercial execution. How he integrates Moncler’s legacy with sharper operational precision could redefine how niche houses evolve into global powerhouses.
What’s next for Bottega Veneta and Moncler
As Bottega Veneta begins its search for a successor, stakeholders will see how the house maintains momentum without Rongone’s guiding hand. The brand’s collaborations, artisanal investments and curated creative direction suggest a blueprint for continuity, but transitions at the top often invite a new interpretation of identity and market strategy.
For Moncler, the era of Leo Rongone opens the door to an intensified focus on strategic innovation. This requires a balance between Ruffini’s creative influence and executive management designed for sustainable global scale.
In an industry where leadership announcements increasingly grab as many headlines as runway debuts, this transition underscores a truth about modern luxury: the convergence of creative vision and business stewardship is not only essential to style, but also to lasting success.
Featured image: Courtesy of Moncler
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