MILAN, Italy — Gucci plans to name a new creative director as early as this week, with accessories designer Alessandro Michele leading a list of candidates for the job, people familiar with the matter said.

Gucci-owner Kering SA’s Chief Executive Officer Francois- Henri Pinault will need to give final approval for the appointment, said the people, who declined to be identified discussing company affairs.

If Michele gets the job, Pinault would be entrusting a little-known designer with one of the biggest and most challenging jobs in fashion after Gucci posted almost no growth for more than a year. The brand has been without a creative director since Frida Giannini left this month.

A Gucci representative declined to comment.

Michele worked as an associate to Giannini at Gucci, overseeing leather goods, shoes, jewelry and homeware. In September, he added the role of creative director of porcelain- maker Richard Ginori 1735 SpA, which Gucci bought in 2013.

The company has promoted from within its ranks for the top design jobs before. Giannini headed leather goods and women's ready-to-wear at Gucci before taking the creative director role. Kering promoted Sarah Burton to lead its Alexander McQueen label after McQueen's death.

Kering announced the end to Giannini's nine-year stint as creative director in December and hastened her planned departure after Marco Bizzarri became CEO this month.

By Andrew Roberts. Editors: Celeste Perri, Paul Jarvis.