(AGI) Rome, Dec 12 - After more than 12 years Gucci creativedirector Frida Giannini and CEO Patrizio Di Marco are to leavethe company. Mr Di Marco, who has been with the Kering groupfor more than 13 years, will depart on Jan. 1, 2015 and will bereplaced by Marco Bizzarri. Frida Giannini, who joined in 2002,will leave her post at the end of February. A new creativedirector will be appointed shortly. Frida Giannini will presenther final women's collection for Gucci on Feb. 25, at theautumn/winter 2015-2016 fashion show. The owner of Kering,Francois-Henri Pinault, said he was "very grateful" for DiMarco and Giannini, who are a couple. "I would like to thankFrida for her extraordinary passion, dedication andcontribution to the Gucci brand. She has been the sole creativedirector of Gucci for close to a decade. This is a remarkableaccomplishment, considering the level and breadth ofresponsibility of supervising all aspects of product and imagefor such a global brand during such a long period of time. I amtruly grateful to her for her achievements, her creativity andthe passion that she has always instilled in her work." As forDi Marco, said Pinault, "The great performances achieved by theGucci brand during his tenure stand as a testament...hisstrategic vision, passion, dedication and charisma were key inbringing Gucci where it is today." Frida Giannini joined theGucci Group in 2002, becoming its sole creative director in2006. Di Marco worked for over 13 years with Kering, beginningin 2001 at Bottega Veneta. He led Gucci for six years from2009. . .