PARIS (The Thursday Times) — Pierpaolo Piccioli is stepping down as creative director of Balenciaga after just 16 months, parent company Kering announced on Thursday. It said the house’s new creative direction would be announced shortly.
Kering chief executive Luca de Meo called him “an exceptional couturier and creative talent”, and Balenciaga chief executive Gianfranco Gianangeli said he had reaffirmed the couture origins of the house.
Piccioli took over from Demna in July 2025 after 25 years at Valentino, and his collections drew mixed reviews. Morgan Stanley estimates Balenciaga’s sales at €1.47 billion in 2025, down from €1.65 billion a year earlier. Kering does not publish sales for the house.
