Cantino, who has served as Gucci’s deputy CEO since May, has held positions with Louis Vuitton and the Prada Group.

French luxury goods company Kering named Stefano Cantino as CEO of Gucci, with Cantino succeeding Jean-Francois Palus next January.

The move comes as Kering seeks to reduce Gucci’s reliance on seasonal designs and younger, less affluent customers, and focus on higher-spending, aesthetically conservative customers.

The executive expected to lead the next phase of the Italian brand, under the Kering umbrella, is Stefano Cantino, who will take on the role of chief executive officer on Jan. 1. He will succeed Jean-François Palus, who was also president of the brand, and report to Francesca Bellettini, deputy CEO of Kering in charge of brand development.