Love and marriage, politics and fashion, go together like a horse and carriage? They do in France at least. Last December, luxury conglomerate PPR, owner of fashion brands Gucci and Bottega Veneta and auction house Christie's, appointed Claude Chirac, former French president Jacques Chirac's youngest daughter and his former director of communications, as Communications Director, a position that comes with a seat on PPR's Executive Committee. Not to be outdone, LVMH announced yesterday that it had appointed Renaud Dutreil as chairman of its North American arm, LVMH Inc., a newly-created position. (Source)
Dutreil has been in politics for over fifteen years and has held various positions during Chirac's presidency including a stint as Ministre des PME (Minister for small and medium sized businesses) and reportedly made his political mark by shepherding reforms to improve French business competitiveness. (Source) He also comes with fashion credentials having worked with Didier Grumbach, the president of France's Chambre Syndicale de la Couture (haute couture's governing body) and author of Histoires De La Mode, on a bank credit system for young designers to help them finance the production process. Dutreil will start on Sept. 1 and will be based in New York City.
Left to right: Renaud Dutreil, Chairman of LVMH Inc.; Louis Vuitton ad featuring Gisele Bundchen; Claude Chirac, Communications Director, PPR;
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