Laurent Claquin is the Head of Kering Americas, the parent company of 22 leading global luxury, sport, and lifestyle brands including Gucci, Yves Saint Laurent, Alexander McQueen, Balenciaga, Brioni, Stella McCartney, Puma, and Volcom. Before rising to the Head of Kering Americas, Claquin initiated and developed the Corporate Social Responsibility program at Kering. In 1997, Claquin pursued his passion for the arts by working at the Galerie Nationale du Jeu de Paume in Paris. Additionally, Claquin was the Deputy Communications Director at the Pompidou Center. Since 2002, Claquin served as Deputy Chief of Staff to the French Minister of Culture and Communication and then Technical Advisor to the Minister since 2004.
