Luca de MeoCEO of Renault groupannounced their own resignation After five years at the top of the French car manufacturer. The decision is motivated by the desire to undertake “new challenges outside the automotive sector”.
According to the newspaper Le FigaroDe Meo will take on the role of general manager of Keringthe luxury multinational who belongs to brands such as Gucci, Saint Laurent and Balenciaga. The patron of Kering, François-Henri Pinault, would have decided to split the group’s top functions, keeping the presidency for itself and entrusting the operational guide to De Meo.
From Renault to Kering: the new assignment in the world of luxury
De Meo’s resignation will be effective from 15 July 2025as established by the Renault Board of Directors meeting to formalize the exit of the CEO. In the same session, the Board of Directors, chaired by Jean-Dominique Senard, expressed “Gratitude for the relaunch and transformation” made by the Italian manager and started the succession plan to appoint a new CEO, confirming full confidence in the internal management team.
The announcement was unexpected in the sector. The president of Renault Senard praised De Meo, underlining that in five years Renault has returned to solid foundations and has started growing again. For De Meo, a radical change is therefore looming: from the automotive to the top of a luxury group.
Who is Luca De Meo: career and successes of the Italian manager
Luca De Meo, 58 years old, Milanese graduated in Economics from Bocconi University, boasts over thirty years of experience in the automotive industry. He began his career in Renault in 1992, and then moved on to Toyota Europe and then to the Fiat group, where he leads brands such as Lancia, Fiat, Alfa Romeo and Abarth. In 2009 he landed in the Volkswagen group as marketing director and since 2012 he entered the Audi Board with responsibility for sales and marketing.
Between 2015 and 2020 he led Seat, within the Volkswagen group, where Hah contributed to the launch of the Cupra sports brand. In July 2020 he returned to Renault, this time with the position of CEO.
The European car sector in crisis: enrollments down and margins under pressure
De Meo’s farewell is part of a Critical moment for European automotive. In 2024 cars enrollments in the EU (more United Kingdom and EFTA) grew by just +0.9% on 2023, remaining about 18% under the levels of 2019.
In January 2025 the European market returned to decline, marking -2.1% on an annual basis. Europe also arranges in the electric transition: in 2024 it was the only large region with sales of decrease electric vehicles, while Germany (once an industrial heart of the sector) suffers a serious overproduction with underutilized systems and flexed margins.
Renault after De Meo: what happens now to the Renaulution plan
De Meo started a Deep relaunch plan in Renault With the “Renaulution” strategy (2021), a three -phase project designed to restore the accounts and ferry the group to the electric era. The results were not long in coming: in 2024 the Renault group recorded 56.2 billion euros in revenues (+7.4%on 2023) and 2.8 billion of net profit (+21%), with a record operating margin 7.6%.
Less than five years ago the French house paid in a serious crisis. De Meo attributes success to a “recipe” made of new models (the case of Dacia Sandero, the most sold cars in Europe in 2024), greater focus on the margins instead of volumes and drastic reduction in costs. Now the last phase of the transformation plan will open with a new CEO, which the group has not yet made official.
