Luxury group Richemont recently announced the appointment of Laurent Malecaze as the new President & CEO of Chloé, the prestigious fashion house based in Paris. Malecaze will be succeeding Riccardo Bellini, who played a crucial role in the surprise appointment of Chemena Kamali as the Creative Director of the brand. Malecaze brings with him valuable experience from his previous role at Dunhill, another fashion house under the control of Richemont, where he successfully managed the turnaround of the classical UK brand in London over the past two years.
Before his time at Dunhill, Malecaze led AZ Factory, a fashion brand founded by Alber Elbaz and part of the larger Richemont luxury empire. He also served as CEO of The Webster, a luxury multi-brand retailer based in New York, following several years as a strategic consultant at Bain & Company. Malecaze expressed his honor at leading such an iconic French luxury Maison and his excitement to collaborate with the immensely talented Chemena Kamali.
Malecaze will report directly to Philippe Fortunato, the CEO of Richemont’s Fashion and Accessories Maisons, who oversees a portfolio of renowned brands including Azzedine Alaïa. Fortunato praised Malecaze’s proven track record of partnering with creative talents and his ability to energize organizations, highlighting their importance in leading Chloé through a period of creative renewal. He expressed confidence that the partnership with Chemena would drive sustained growth for the Maison.
Furthermore, Richemont announced that a new CEO for Dunhill will be announced soon. As the world’s third-largest prestige products conglomerate, Richemont primarily focuses on “hard luxury” and owns esteemed jewelers such as Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, and Buccellati, as well as renowned watch brands like IWC, Vacheron Constantin, and Jaeger LeCoultre.
Founded in 1952, Chloé has been a significant presence in the Paris fashion scene and has been associated with notable designers such as Karl Lagerfeld, Martine Sitbon, Phoebe Philo, Stella McCartney, and Claire Waight Keller. Gabriela Hearst, the most recent designer, brought her own success and recognition to the brand but faced challenges in making a significant impact during her tenure. Bellini, who has been the President & CEO of Chloé for four years, expressed his pride in the growth, transformation, and sustainability efforts of the Maison during his time. He believes that Kamali, as the new Creative Director, will unlock the full potential of Chloé.
Bellini will officially leave Chloé at the end of December, and Fortunato thanked him for his dedication and leadership, acknowledging the successful reconnection of Chloé with its purpose and the foundation laid for its future growth. Richemont’s appointment of Laurent Malecaze marks a new chapter for Chloé, driven by talented leadership and creative vision.
Useful links:
– Business of Fashion: Chloé Names Laurent Malecaze as CEO
– Vogue Business: Who’s Next at Dunhill?
