On May 25th, the French luxury goods giant Kering held the inauguration ceremony of its new headquarters in Milan, Italy.
François-Henri Pinault, chairman and CEO of Kering Group, said at the opening ceremony: "Kering Group entered the Italian market 20 years ago, and its Pomellato, Gucci, etc. represent the highest level of Italian handmade products. At the same time, we have also opened industrial centers for non-Italian brands such as Saint Laurent and Balenciaga, because Italy is the only country that provides us with professional knowledge and technology, so we will continue to invest here."
François-Henri Pinault also mentioned that the leaders of the major brands under the Kering Group are all from Italy, such as Marco Bizzarri, chairman and CEO of Gucci, Sabina Belli, CEO of Pomellato, Francesca Bellettini, CEO of Saint Laurent, etc.
Carlo Capasa, President of the Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana (CNMI), Matteo Lunelli, President of Altagamma, and Beppe Sala, Mayor of Milan, all attended the opening ceremony.
The new Italian headquarters of the Kering Group are located in Milan, in the more than 300-year-old Pertusati Gropallo building in the Quadrilatero della moda, a district of the most important fashion brands. The building was designed by the 18th-century architect Simone Cantoni and is considered a fine example of the neoclassical style.
Jean-François Palus, Managing Director of the Kering Group, commented: "We are very pleased to be able to relocate our Italian headquarters to this magnificent location in the heart of Milan's luxury and business district."
The interior space of the Pertusati Gropallo building was completely renovated in the style of Italian design, using soft colors, natural light, and environmentally friendly building materials to create a green and comfortable office environment.
At the same time, the new headquarters has been designed for maximum mobility and versatility: the building has six floors; the first five floors are used as office areas, equipped with canteens and cafes; and the top floor houses a panoramic meeting room and a panoramic terrace of over 1,500 square meters overlooking Milan Cathedral. The building includes more than 300 workstations, as well as telephone booths, meeting rooms, and interactive spaces for personal use. According to Kering's official website, the interior design will soon receive LEED Platinum certification and Well Gold certification.
LEED Platinum (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification is issued by the US Green Building Council, marking that the building has reached the highest standards in terms of energy conservation, environmental protection, and sustainability.
WELL Gold certification is issued by the International WELL Building Institute, focusing on the impact of buildings on people's health and well-being. The gold level indicates that the building has reached a high standard in this regard.
During the past 20 years, Kering Group has made many investments in Italy, such as:
In 2016, the Gucci Hub, with an area of 35,000 square meters, was opened in the Mecenate district of Milan as the headquarters of the group and a venue for fashion shows.
In 2021, a logistics center with a central area of more than 162,000 square meters was built in Trecate, Novara, Italy.
The new headquarters completed in Milan this time is the latest investment project implemented by the group. Jean-François Palus commented: "This new headquarters represents an important milestone for Kering in Italy, and I believe it will further strengthen the sense of belonging of the group's more than 13,000 Italian employees."
The mayor of Milan, Beppe Sala, gave Kering a warm welcome at the opening ceremony: "I am delighted that these people who have faith in our city are here. It is also a university city, and its international characteristics connect these fields together. If we can continue to carry forward the historical tradition of Milan, we will create a unique and diverse city."
