Kering has appointed a new Chief Digital, AI and IT Officer. Pierre Houlès will take over the newly created position with immediate effect, the French luxury goods group announced on Tuesday. In this role, he will also become a member of Kering’s Executive Committee and report directly to Jean-Marc Duplaix, Group Chief Operating Officer.
As head of digital, Houlès will be responsible for the further development of the group’s digital strategy and will accelerate the transformation of the technological architecture to support Kering’s operational and technological ambitions. The aim is to establish a model that consistently integrates innovation and thus strengthens the performance and attractiveness of the group’s brands, the company said.
Houlès has extensive experience in digital transformation. From 2004 to 2011, he led significant transformation projects at the French IT and consulting services provider Capgemini, before moving to the French media group CANAL+ Group, where he was appointed Chief Information Officer in 2012.
In 2016, Houlès joined Renault Group to drive the company’s digital transformation, similar to Kering CEO Luca de Meo, who previously led the French automaker. In 2019, Houlès was appointed Managing Director of Renault Digital as well as the Group’s Deputy Chief Information Officer. He also served as Technical Director for the Mobilize and Dacia brands, while maintaining his roles within the Renault Group.
With his expertise in large-scale transformations, the integration of complex systems and the use of new technologies – especially in the area of artificial intelligence – Houlès will make a significant contribution to driving the development of a more integrated, innovative and future-oriented group.