A NEW CHIEF: Balenciaga has a new chief marketing officer who has experience at several shoe-focused companies, WWD has learned.
It is understood Drieke Leenknegt takes up the role effective Thursday, reporting to chief executive officer Gianfranco Gianangeli. She will also join the executive committee.
The role at Balenciaga has been vacant since last September, when Ludivine Pont stepped down and moved to Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella as CEO.
Leenknegt started her career as an account manager at PR Force Consulting in Brussels, then joined Nike as a corporate communications officer for the Benelux region.
She spent 20 years at Nike in Europe, the U.S. and China. She was general manager of Nike Women in Greater China before she took on the role of global vice president, influencer marketing and collaboration at Nike headquarters in Portland.
From 2020 to 2022, she advised track-and-field athlete Allyson Felix on the launch of her brand Saysh, then joined Timberland, a VF company, as chief marketing officer.
She held the same title at Vans, another VF company, from 2023 to 2025, lately acting as an independent adviser to clients including Chinese activewear giant Anta.
Coincidentally, Leenknegt joins Balenciaga amid activations related to the launch of Balenciaga’s Techwear line, part of the pre-fall 2026 collection by creative director Pierpaolo Piccioli. Smoothies, post-workout bars and fitness studio takeovers are underway until July 4.
