The Italian is set to leave Renault next month to become boss of Kering, the struggling owner of Gucci and Saint Laurent, from mid-September. While de Meo has spent his entire career in the car industry, he has been making discreet overtures to the luxury industry for some time, according to two people with knowledge of the situation.

Luca de Meo, a seasoned executive with more than three decades of experience in the automotive industry, is set to take the helm at Kering, the French multinational group renowned for its portfolio of luxury brands.

Renault SA is under pressure to quickly find a replacement for Chief Executive Officer Luca de Meo after the shock news of his planned departure, as the industry grapples with rising trade tensions and intense competition from Chinese manufacturers led by BYD Co.