Photo credit: Valentino
Valentino is entering a new era this September with Riccardo Bellini taking charge as CEO. The Roman house confirmed the appointment this week, following the departure of Jacopo Venturini in August. Bellini comes from Mayhoola, Valentino’s majority owner, where he served as managing director.
Valentino’s chairman, Rachid Mohamed Rachid, said Bellini’s experience in business will complement Alessandro Michele’s creative direction. Together, they hope to guide Valentino into its next phase while keeping the house’s unique atmosphere. Bellini said he feels honored to join a brand known for its outstanding work. He also noted that he looks forward to shaping Valentino’s next chapter alongside Michele and its teams.
Behind the scenes, ownership also plays a role. Mayhoola, the Qatar-backed investor, holds 70% of Valentino, while Kering owns the other 30% after a 2023 deal worth about $2 billion. Kering has the option to take full control of the brand by 2028, but for now, Mayhoola has stated it intends to keep its majority stake.
Bellini has years of experience in luxury fashion. He led Maison Margiela from 2017 to 2019, then became CEO of Chloé during the COVID-19 pandemic. At Chloé, he pushed the brand toward sustainability, which helped the brand earn B Corp certification, an uncommon accreditation in fashion. In early 2025, he joined Mayhoola after bringing in Chemena Kamali as Chloé’s new creative director.