She is the new boss of Christian Dior. But Delphine Arnault is hardly a stranger at the French luxury fashion house she will now head.
Because the 47-year-old, whose promotion was announced yesterday, happens to be the owner’s daughter.
Bernard Arnault is the richest man in the world with a fortune of £147 billion.
He is co-founder and chairman of the LVMH conglomerate, which owns the brands Louis Vuitton, Moet and Hennessy, and Dior.
Delphine Arnault, daughter of Christian Dior owner Bernard Arnault (left), is the new boss of the French luxury fashion house. The father-daughter duo is pictured in 2019
Mr Arnault has named Delphine, (pictured in 2015), the eldest of his five children, as his heir as he cements the family’s hold on the £345billion luxury goods empire
Mr Arnault has named Delphine, the eldest of his five children, as his heir apparent while cementing the family’s hold on the £345billion luxury goods empire.
However, the man – nicknamed “the wolf in Kashmir” for his reckless actions – has signaled he has no intention of stepping down anytime soon – the company recently raised its age limit for CEOs from 75 to 80.
All of his children play important roles in the company’s brands.
Ms. Arnault, who will take up her new position on February 1, has been executive vice president of Louis Vuitton since 2013 and was previously managing director of Dior.
She grew up mostly in Lille but spent three years in the US when her family moved to New York and has a degree from the London School of Economics. For her 18th birthday she received her first Louis Vuitton bag, a brown Noe handbag.
Her career began at consulting firm McKinsey in the late 1990s and she moved to Dior in 2000.
Mum-of-two Ms. Arnault (right), who takes up her new position on February 1, has been executive vice president of Louis Vuitton since 2013 and was previously managing director of Dior. Mrs Arnault is pictured with Paul McCartney (centre) and his wife Nancy Shevell (left) in 2019
Ms Arnault (pictured with her father in 1992) was credited with keeping the brand afloat in 2011 after British creative director John Galliano made widespread revelations about an anti-Semitic outburst in Paris that led to his sacking
She was credited with keeping the brand afloat in 2011 after British creative director John Galliano made widespread revelations about an anti-Semitic outburst in Paris that led to his sacking.
In an interview with the Financial Times, Ms Arnault described her leadership style as “pretty quiet”. But she added: “I’m very competitive. With everything. I like competition, it’s fun.”
Ms. Arnault married Alessandro Vallarino Gancia, heir to an Italian wine dynasty, in 2005.
Their wedding was a significant event for the French elite and was named Wedding of the Year by Harper’s Bazaar magazine. She wore a dress designed for her by Galliano, which took 1,300 hours to make.
The couple divorced five years later and she is now in a relationship with French billionaire Xavier Niel.
Ms. Arnault, who is said to be a very private person who does not like media intrusion, gave birth to their daughter Elisa in August 2012 and their son Joseph in September 2016.
Announcing Ms Arnault’s promotion yesterday, her father, who founded what is now LVMH in 1987 and overtook Elon Musk last year to become the richest man in the world, said: “Under her leadership, the desirability of Louis Vuitton products increased significantly, which the brand regularly set new sales records.
‘Her keen knowledge and unparalleled experience will be instrumental in driving Christian Dior’s continued development.’
Ms. Arnault also serves on the Board of Directors of LVMH and its Executive Committee. Pictured left to right in 2021: Delphine Arnault, Bernard Arnault, Antoine Arnault and his wife, Russian model Natalia Vodianova
Ms. Arnault also serves on the Board of Directors of LVMH and its Executive Committee.
LVMH has another connection to a fashion boss with a mega-rich father – Sir Paul McCartney’s daughter Stella. The designer has collaborated with the brand on luxury fashion and a skincare range.
It’s not uncommon for leaders to pass the baton to family members.
Last year, Marta Ortega Perez took over from her father Amancio Ortega, the richest man in Spain, as head of the world’s largest fashion group Inditex, which owns Zara, Massimo Dutti, Pull & Bear and Stradivarius. She started out as a shop assistant at Zara on the King’s Road in London at the age of 22.
Mike Ashley’s Frasers Group, which includes Sports Direct and House of Fraser, appointed his son-in-law Michael Murray as chief executive last May.