Michael Burke to Replace Sidney Toledano as Head of LVMH Fashion Group
Confirming industry speculation, LVMH announced Thursday it appointed Michael Burke as chairman and CEO of its fashion group.
Starting Feb. 1, Burke will assume his new role overseeing brands like Dior, Louis Vuitton, Loewe, Rimowa and more. He succeeds Sidney Toledano, who held the position since 2018 and will become an advisor to Bernard Arnault. (Toledano is also chairman of the board at Institut Français de la Mode and president of the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture.)
Burke has spent decades rising the company's ranks, serving as CEO of Christian Dior USA from 1986 to 1992, then CEO of Louis Vuitton North America, Worldwide Managing Director of Christian Dior Couture, Chairman and CEO of Fendi and CEO of Bulgari before taking on his most celebrated role of over a decade: Chairman and CEO of Louis Vuitton.
"I am a great believer in long-term vision, in craftsmanship, in creativity and in excellence. These are all ingredients in the recipe I intend to apply with the teams at these Maisons to elevate their desirability and set new records even further," he said, in a statement. "I fully embrace the objective of heightening the magic of these extraordinary Maisons."
"By my side even before the creation of LVMH, [Burke] has always been a key player in the Group's success, largely thanks to his remarkable discernment and finesse of his work at the Head of Fendi, Bulgari and Louis Vuitton," Arnault said, in a statement. "Under his leadership, Louis Vuitton became the largest and most prestigious Maison in the world, placing culture at the heart of its creative vision and development. His extensive experience and his passion for craft and creativity are invaluable assets to pursue and further accelerate the dynamic growth of the Maisons in the LVMH Fashion Group."
Since February 2023, Burke has served as Arnault's strategic advisor. He became the frontrunner for the fashion group CEO role in April 2023, per reporting by Miss Tweed.
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