Luca de Meo is a self-proclaimed ‘car guy’ who turned Renault Group around and reinvented Alpine – so his abrupt departure for the world of luxury goods is a sign of headwinds coming for the car indus

Renault Chief Executive Luca de Meo plans to step down in mid-July and pursue new challenges outside the automotive industry, with French newspaper Le Figaro reporting he is set to become the new boss of Gucci-owner Kering.

De Meo's unexpected departure marks the second top-level exit from a European carmaker in six months, after Carlos Tavares resigned from Stellantis.