Renaud de Lesquen named CEO of Givenchy

By

Dominique Muret

Published
Mar 7, 2020

Change is afoot at Givenchy. The LVMH-owned Parisian fashion house is gaining a new president and CEO, in the form of Renaud de Lesquen, according to an internal note sent out at the company. The label didn't have to look too far, as its new boss joins from Dior, another of LVMH's brands, where he led U.S. operations. 

Lesquen steps into his new role in early April and succeeds Philippe Fortunato, who has held the position since September 2014 and is leaving the group "to pursue a personal project."

Before joining LVMH, Lesquen, 50, spent most of his career at L'Oréal. Having graduated from Paris' ESCP Business School in 1991, he began his career in the fragrance and cosmetics sector, working mainly in marketing and product development roles.

In 1993, he joined L'Oréal, where he spent 19 years, notably working for Lancôme in France and the U.S., for Helena Rubinstein in Japan, and for Giorgio Armani Beauty, before being promoted to CEO of Yves Saint Laurent Beauty, one of the most important brands at the group. 

He joined Dior in 2012, taking control of the brand's operations in China, including its fragrance, cosmetics, fashion and jewellery activities. Four years later, in 2016, he transferred to the U.S., becoming CEO of Christian Dior Couture and Parfums Christian Dior in the market. In 2019, he was promoted to CEO of Dior Americas. 
 
His arrival at Givenchy signals the start of a new chapter at the brand, where British designer Clare Waight Keller has served as creative director since March 2017. In particular, Lesquen could be looking to accelerate the development of the house's beauty segment.