May 19 (Reuters) - French luxury group Kering

said on Monday that Pierpaolo Piccioli has been

appointed creative director at Balenciaga, replacing Demna who

is taking up the chief design job at the group's top label

Gucci.

Piccioli, 57, joins Balenciaga after a 25-year tenure at

Valentino, working as the label's sole creative director for

nearly a decade.

At Valentino, the designer was known for his vibrant colour

palettes, including a bright pink that became his signature, as

well as wide, floaty dresses that expanded the house's appeal to

younger generations.

The appointment takes effect on July 10.

Piccioli's first collection for Balenciaga will be unveiled

in October 2025, the group said.