Further fortifying management at its largest brands via internal promotions, LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton has named Damien Bertrand deputy chief executive officer of Louis Vuitton, and Pierre-Emmanuel Angeloglou as deputy CEO of Christian Dior Couture.
Bertrand, currently CEO of Loro Piana, will be succeeded by Frédéric Arnault, currently CEO of LVMH Watches, which comprises Tag Heuer, Hublot and Zenith.
Arnault, the second youngest of LVMH chairman and CEO Bernard Arnault’s five children, is to join Loro Piana on March 26 for a transition period with Betrand, who starts at Vuitton on June 10, and also becomes a member of LVMH’s executive committee.
The trio of appointments underscores how the French luxury giant largely prefers to groom and promote talent from within, and is in the throes of stacking its marquee brands with younger, accomplished executives, some of whom will be reunited with former bosses.
Bertrand, who worked at Christian Dior Couture from 2016 to 2021 as managing director in charge of the women’s, men’s and baby’s business units, will be reunited with Pietro Beccari, who helmed Dior before becoming chairman and CEO of Louis Vuitton in 2023. Before LVMH, Bertrand was an 18-year veteran of French beauty giant L’Oréal.
And Angeloglou, another L’Oréal executive who joined Vuitton in 2019 as strategic missions director for fashion and leather goods and later named executive vice president, will be reunited with Delphine Arnault, who left Vuitton to become chairman and CEO of Christian Dior Couture in 2023 as part of a big management shuffle at the top of that year.
Commenting on the appointments on Wednesday, Bernard Arnault said, “our maisons’ desirability is fueled by dedicated and passionate leaders. Damien, Frédéric and Pierre-Emmanuel’s vision, entrepreneurial spirit, creativity and commitment to excellence will be assets to pursue the dynamic development of our maisons.
“These three nominations also reflect our group’s ability to craft careers,” he added.
The management shuffle also sets the stage for a new manager-designer duo at Fendi.
Angeloglou, who became managing director of LVMH Fashion Group in March 2024 overseeing Fendi, Kenzo, Marc Jacobs, Pucci, Stella McCartney, Patou and Off-White, was additionally named CEO of the Roman fashion house last May.
Last October, Kim Jones stepped down as Fendi’s artistic director of haute couture, ready-to-wear and fur collections for women, leaving Silvia Venturini Fendi to spearhead the coed Fendi show last month during Milan Fashion Week that kicked off centenary celebrations.
Angeloglou is to move over to Christian Dior Couture on April 15, reporting to Delphine Arnault.
His successors at LVMH Fashion Group and Fendi were not mentioned in Wednesday’s press release.
However, according to sources, Ramon Ros, currently president and CEO of Louis Vuitton China, is considered a top contender for the Fendi role.
Angeloglou is the latest CEO-level executive to arrive at Dior under Delphine Arnault, demonstrating the gravitational pull of today’s luxury behemoths.
Last year, Benedetta Petruzzo, previously CEO of Miu Miu, joined Christian Dior Couture as managing director, while Montblanc’s CEO Nicolas Baretzki came on board as deputy managing director.
According to LVMH, Angeloglou is to work alongside Arnault overseeing commercial activities, industrial, finance and legal.
“His capacity to articulate a compelling vision, coupled with an empowerment of the teams, will be key assets for Christian Dior Couture’s development and desirability,” the release said.
One of LVMH’s stealthiest brands, Loro Piana, doesn’t have a star creative director, stage fashion shows or do collaborations.
But it has become the third-largest business in the fashion and leather goods division behind Vuitton and Dior, with market sources estimating it generates revenues of about 2.5 billion euros.
It is understood the brand’s profits are now at the level of revenues when LVMH acquired the brand in 2013, with Antoine Arnault becoming chairman and leading its integration into the group.
Bertrand, who came on board in 2021, focused on brand elevation, product quality and savoir-faire to position the brand as the “master of fibers.” It sources vicuña from Peru, cashmere from Mongolia, and the finest, rarest wools from New Zealand and Australia.
The executive brought the menswear and womenswear closer, developing the collections together, and further elaborated on Loro Piana’s push into leather goods and homewares.
At Vuitton, he is to focus on industrial product creation and development, brand image and communication, according to LVMH.
Frédéric Arnault joins Loro Piana at a time when the brand is said to be logging double-digit growth, fueled partly by an enduring trend toward quiet luxury. He officially starts June 10 and will report to Toni Belloni, chairman of LVMH Italy.
According to LVMH, Arnault will “build on his passion for exceptional quality and his leadership skills to pursue Loro Piana to the highest level of excellence, while ensuring the maison stays true to its unique savoir-faire.”
The executive is best known for his tenure at Tag Heuer, which he joined in 2017 to manage its smartwatch activities before becoming chief strategy and digital officer and, ultimately, CEO in 2020.
He became head of LVMH watches a year ago, with a big focus on streamlining and optimizing the industrial backdrop crucial to Swiss watchmaking. He lead the the acquisition of clockmaker L’Épée 1839 and its parent company Swiza, bringing unique know-how into the group.
Arnault also played a key role in developing the 10-year global partnership between LVMH and Formula 1.
LVMH said Arnault’s successor as CEO of LVMH Watches will be announced shortly.
