Giannini and Di Marco leave Gucci - update

(ANSA) - Rome, December 12 - Gucci Creative Director Frida Giannini and Chief Executive Officer Patrizio Di Marco will leave the Italian fashion house after Milan Fashion Week in February 2015, Gucci's parent company Kering announced Friday.
    It added that Marco Bizzarri, currently head of luxury couture and leather goods, will take over as new CEO.
    Giannini's replacement has not yet been named.
    In a statement, Kering Chairman and CEO François-Henri Pinault thanked Giannini for "her extraordinary passion, dedication and contribution to the Gucci brand.
    "She has been the sole creative director of Gucci for close to a decade," he said.
    Giannini joined Gucci in 2002 as head of design for leather goods and was appointed creative director in 2006.
    Di Marco, Giannini's husband, joined Kering as Bottega Veneta CEO in 2001 and helmed Gucci for six years.
    Di Marco's "strategic vision, passion, dedication and charisma were key to bring Gucci where it is today", Pinault said.
    As CEO, Bizzarri will be expected to increase international growth for the fashion house.
    Gucci sales were down 3.5% in the first three quarters of this year, compared growth at other Kering brands including 12% at Bottega Veneta and 26% at Yves Saint Laurent.
    "This leadership transition will not result in any change in the organization of Kering luxury activities", Kering said.