Luxury giant Kering announced on Monday the appointment of Luca de Meo as Chief Executive Officer, entrusting him with the challenging task of revitalizing Gucci, its flagship brand currently facing difficulties.

This announcement comes just a day after the surprise resignation of the Italian executive from carmaker Renault, and signals a broader shake-up in the luxury group's governance with the separation of chairman and CEO roles.

François-Henri Pinault, Kering's current Chairman and CEO and whose family is the group's main shareholder, will retain only the role of chairman, Kering specified in a highly anticipated press release.

Luca de Meo, who will step down from Renault on July 15, is expected to take over at Kering on September 15.

"Luca de Meo's experience at the helm of a listed international group, his deep understanding of brands, and his commitment to a strong and respectful corporate culture convinced me that he is the leader I was seeking to bring a new vision and steer this chapter in our group's history," said François-Henri Pinault, as quoted in the statement.

Luca de Meo's move to the luxury group was first reported Sunday night by Le Figaro and later confirmed to Reuters by five sources close to the matter. Even before the official announcement, Kering's share price soared by 11.76% on Monday.

"Hiring someone from outside the luxury sector might seem risky, but his profile appears well-suited to lead Kering. We view positively the appointment of an outsider, and Luca de Meo may be the ideal candidate to oversee the turnaround," analysts at Kepler Cheuvreux wrote in a note.

Luca de Meo's transition to Kering marks a radical shift for the luxury group, which has struggled to convince investors of Gucci's recovery, the main driver of the group's sales and operating profit.

In the first quarter, Kering's revenue fell by 14% and Gucci's sales dropped by 25%. The company's management had already warned during its earnings presentation that another double-digit decline was expected in the second quarter.

In March, Kering appointed Demna Gvasalia, known simply as Demna, as Gucci's new creative director—a controversial choice that failed to win over the market.

Since the start of the year, and as of Friday's close, Kering shares had fallen by more than 27%.

(Written by Mara Vîlcu and Blandine Hénault)