Seán McGirr is leaving Alexander McQueen. Kering said on Thursday, October 15, that its creative director of three years will step down, and that new creative leadership will be announced soon.
It is the second major designer exit at Kering in about a week, as its new chief executive, Luca de Meo, remakes the group's smaller labels.
What Kering said
"I would like to thank Seán for his contribution and dedication to Alexander McQueen," de Meo said. "Our ambition is to establish a bold new direction for the house."
McQueen's president and CEO, Gianfranco D'Attis, also praised McGirr's work, FashionNetwork reported.
McGirr said he was proud of his team's "progressive energy" and was looking forward to "my next chapter." He has not said what that is.
Why he's leaving
Kering didn't give a reason. The reporting points to three things.
Sales. Analysts at Bernstein estimate McQueen's annual revenue has fallen below €200 million, from a peak of about €800 million during the post-Covid luxury boom, according to AFP. FashionNetwork puts the figure at under €300 million. Either way, it's a fraction of what it was.
Reviews. McGirr leaned into the house's rebellious, experimental streak, with devil-horn wigs, plexiglass dresses, collars and shredded lace, W Magazine noted. But critics, buyers and social media never fully warmed to it, and the brand came to lean heavily on one popular sneaker line.
Restructuring. De Meo, who built a reputation as a cost-cutter at Renault, first explored selling McQueen, AFP reported, before choosing cuts instead: fewer stores, fewer jobs and lower costs.
Who replaces him?
No successor has been named. Kering says an announcement is coming soon, and FashionNetwork reports the new designer will be based in London, where Lee McQueen built the house.
Puck reported on October 16 that Kering has already picked a replacement. The company hasn't confirmed a name, and we won't publish one until it does.
McGirr's three years
McGirr, a 38-year-old Irish designer, arrived in October 2023 from JW Anderson, where he ran ready-to-wear. He succeeded Sarah Burton, who had led McQueen for 13 years after its founder's death in 2010 and has since moved to Givenchy.
His first collection, shown in Paris in March 2024, drew mixed reviews, and that reception largely held through his tenure.
| Creative director | Years | What happened next |
|---|---|---|
| Lee Alexander McQueen | 1992–2010 | Founded the house; died in 2010 |
| Sarah Burton | 2010–2023 | Moved to Givenchy |
| Seán McGirr | 2023–2026 | Next role not announced |
A shake-up across Kering
McQueen is one piece of a bigger overhaul.
- Saint Laurent: Anthony Vaccarello left the week before, after a decade in charge.
- Gucci: the group's biggest brand has improved under creative director Demna, AFP reported.
- Balenciaga: industry rumours say Pierpaolo Piccioli could leave less than 18 months after joining. Kering has not confirmed this.
- The shares: Kering stock is down about 28% this year, against a weak backdrop for luxury, with softer demand from China.
What to watch
The successor, and whether Kering picks a London designer with a fashion-week following or someone from inside a big house.
The first post-McGirr collection, and whether McQueen keeps showing in Paris.
More exits at Kering, especially Balenciaga.
Published Sunday, October 18, 2026. Kering's announcement and McGirr's statement are from Reuters and FashionNetwork; sales estimates are from Bernstein via AFP and from FashionNetwork. Reports of a chosen successor and of Pierpaolo Piccioli's possible exit are unconfirmed.
