Creative director Alessandro Michele is leaving the Gucci brand. It was announced by WWD.

The publication citing to high-ranking sources reports that the creative director Alessandro Michele will leave the brand.

An official statement is expected on Wednesday, November 23. Gucci did not respond to repeated requests for comment late Tuesday. A source who chose to remain anonymous said Michele was asked to initiate a strong design change to draw attention to the brand, but the designer did not comply with the request.

Another source said François-Henri Pinault, chairman and CEO of Gucci's parent company, Kering, is considering a change of pace for the group's star brand.

This isn't the first time Pinault has shaken up one of Kering's key brands. Last November, Pinault unexpectedly ousted Daniel Lee as head of Bottega Veneta, despite the fact that the designer was well-established at the brand and had great success with critics.

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