Paris, Sept. 18 -- Gucci, the crown jewel of French luxury group Kering, has named Francesca Bellettini as its new chief executive in a move that underscores mounting pressure on the storied Italian fashion house to arrest a steep sales decline. The leadership shake-up was confirmed on Wednesday by the Financial Times, marking the first major restructuring under Kering's newly appointed group CEO, Luca de Meo.

Bellettini replaces Stefano Cantino, who departs after less than a year in the role. Her elevation ends weeks of speculation over whether Kering's board would act quickly to reverse Gucci's recent performance, which has weighed heavily on the group's earnings. The decision also reflects de Meo's determination to streamline a manage...