Bernard Arnault, the 76-year-old chairman and chief executive of luxury giant LVMH, is asking shareholders to change the company’s rules so he can remain in charge until he turns 85. The current age limit for the dual role is 80, having already been raised from 75 in 2022.
Arnault has built LVMH into a European powerhouse spanning champagne (Moët & Chandon), fashion (Louis Vuitton) and watchmaking (TAG Heuer). He also owns the French financial newspaper Les Echos. Under Arnault’s leadership, LVMH shares have climbed more than twentyfold over three decades, although the stock has fallen by around one third in the past two years to €606 amid cooling Chinese demand for luxury goods.
The Paris-listed group has outside shareholders who tend to favour clear succession plans. Speculation over who might eventually succeed Arnault has swirled for years. Although he has not explicitly named an heir, each of his five children has a senior role at LVMH. Delphine, 49, heads Christian Dior; Antoine, 47, is group image and environment director; Alexandre, 32, serves as deputy chief executive of Moët Hennessey; Frederic, 30, recently took charge of the Loro Piana cashmere label after running LVMH Watches; Jean, 26, oversees watch operations at Louis Vuitton. Except for Jean, they all sit on the company’s board. The Arnault family controls 48.6 per cent of the business.
LVMH’s lead independent director is Henri de Castries, the former chief executive of insurance giant AXA. Observers note that shareholders value Arnault’s experience and track record, but are also mindful of the potential pitfalls of long-serving leaders, including health concerns, reluctance to embrace new ideas and a lack of strong internal voices to counter the boss’s plans.
Arnault’s personal fortune is estimated at $179 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaire Index. He is perceived to be in robust health and has been known to work 12-hour days, sometimes visiting dozens of LVMH stores in one weekend. A person familiar with the group said: “He’s got no plans to go anywhere any time soon.”
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