Balenciaga appoints former Nike and Vans exec as CMO
Luxury fashion house Balenciaga has appointed Drieke Leenknegt as Chief Marketing Officer, effective immediately.
Leenknegt will report to CEO Gianfranco Gianangeli and join the company's executive committee, according to WWD.
The position has been vacant since September 2025, following the departure of Ludivine Pont, who left to become CEO of Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella.
Leenknegt brings more than two decades of international marketing and leadership experience.
During her 20-year tenure at Nike, she held a range of roles across Europe, the United States and China, including General Manager of Nike Women in Greater China and Global Vice President of Influencer Marketing & Collaborations at the company's Portland headquarters.
She later served as Chief Marketing Officer at Timberland before taking on the same role at Vans from 2023 to 2025. Both brands are part of VF Corporation.
Most recently, Leenknegt worked as an independent adviser, with clients including Chinese sportswear company Anta.
Her appointment comes as Balenciaga expands promotional activity around its TechWear line, featured in Creative Director Pierpaolo Piccioli's pre-fall 2026 collection, "Body & Being".
The initiative includes pop-up experiences in Paris, Beijing, Shanghai and Bangkok, as well as takeovers at Barry's fitness studios in cities including Los Angeles, New York, London, Milan, Dubai and Sydney through 4 July.
