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Yves Carcelle, former Louis Vuitton CEO, dies aged 66 [Gulf News (United Arab Emirates)]
[September 01, 2014]

Yves Carcelle, former Louis Vuitton CEO, dies aged 66 [Gulf News (United Arab Emirates)]


(Gulf News (United Arab Emirates) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Yves Carcelle, the former chairman and CEO of Louis Vuitton who helped the brand become a global luxury power, died on August 31 aged 66 following a long illness, the company said on Monday.



The Frenchman led the French fashion house for from 1990 to 2012. He joined Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy (LVMH), Louis Vuitton's parent company, in 1989, and remained a member of LVMH Executive Committee after leaving the post of CEO. He was also vice chairman of Frank Gehry designed Fondation Louis Vuitton museum, due to open in Paris next month.

He was diagnosed with kidney cancer last year and died in Paris, Women's Wear Daily reported.


"A tireless traveler, Yves was a pioneer who embodied the image and values of Louis Vuitton," LVMH chairman and CEO Bernard Arnault said in a statement. "Always curious, passionate and in motion, he was one of the most inspiring leaders of men and women I have ever had the privilege of knowing." Vogue called him "a hugely respected figure in the industry," citing as his most notable achievements opening new lines of business — eyewear and fine jewellery — and increasing the brand's presence around the world.

He is also credited with hiring a then little-known designer called Marc Jacobs to design ready-to-wear for the brand.

"By hiring Jacobs to produce Vuitton's first ready-to-wear clothing, Carcelle created a template for other accessories brands such as Gucci and Prada," wrote fashion editor Suzy Menkes on her tribute on Vogue.co.uk, calling him a "marketing genius".

Carcelle also led Louis Vuitton's sponsorship of yachting races "from the front" said one yachting website in its obituary on Monday.

"Carcelle was a beacon of serenity and sanction in the often turbulent and heated world of the America's Cup," wrote Richard Gladwell on Sail-World.com Carcelle, in an interview with Gulf News in 2009, said he would spend 150 days a year travelling the world, an indication of his commitment to the brand's international expansion. At that time, when the world was reeling under economic collapse, he was opening an LV store in Dubai Mall, and made clear his feelings that the recession would not affect the brand.

"While others are closing shutters, we are opening more. Our latest opening at the Dubai Mall is a proof," he said. "When we look at any project, we look at the numbers and see if they are attainable. Those who grew aggressively without proper financial planning are suffering." Carcelle was the sixth chief executive of the 155-year-old company, and was the first chief executive of Louis Vuitton not related to the Louis Vuitton family. He was succeeded as CEO by Jordi Constans.

Born on May 18, 1948, in Paris, Carcelle attended the Ecole Polytechnique in Paris, graduating in mathematics in 1966. He also earned a master's in business administration from French business school Insead, according to his profile on the company's website.

Beginning his career as a product manager at Spontex, a maker of household cleaning products, in 1970, Carcelle joined Blenda Pharm laboratories in 1974. He was appointed director of the Absorba clothing brand at Poron in 1979 and became president of Descamps, a maker of household linen, in 1985. He joined LVMH in 1989 as director of strategy.

Carcelle was also a board member of French luxury-goods organization Comite Colbert and art venue Palais de Tokyo in Paris. He was a chevalier of the French Legion of Honor and an honorary member of the New Zealand Order of Merit.

He is survived by his wife Rebecca and their two sons as well as three children from a previous marriage, according to Women's Wear Daily.

— With inputs from Bloomberg (c) 2014 Al Nisr Publishing LLC . All rights reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).

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