Laurent Malecaze takes on the role of CEO at French fashion house Chloé.
He succeeds Riccardo Bellini, who is stepping down as president and CEO after four years, Chloé parent company Richemont announced on Wednesday. This decision was made in close collaboration with the group “to enable an orderly completion of his role and a smooth start for the new creative director”. So Bellini leaves at the end of the year, making way for Malecaze and Cheman Kamali, who will take up the position of creative director from January.
“I would like to thank Riccardo for his commitment and leadership over the last four years at Chloé,” said Philippe Fortunato, Richemont’s CEO of fashion and accessories. “He has helped reconnect Chloé with its purpose, creating a unique differentiator within the industry and laying the foundation for the next cycle of growth.
New CEO changes within the group
Malecaze comes from the British brand Dunhill, which, like Chloé, belongs to the Swiss luxury goods group Compagnie Financière Richemont SA (Richemont). He has served as CEO there for the past two years and during this time has led a “successful turnaround” of the brand. Previously, he ran the AZ Factory, part of Richemont, which he founded together with the late fashion designer Alber Elbaz. He also worked as CEO of the New York luxury retailer The Webster and as a strategic advisor at the US management consultancy Bain & Company.
“Laurent has a proven track record of working with great creative talent, and his ability to energize a company will be critical to leading Chloé during this period of creative renewal,” said Fortunato. “I am confident that his partnership with Chemena will usher in a sustained period of growth for the property.”
Until a successor to Malecaze at Dunhill is announced, Andrew Holmes, Chief Operating and Financial Officer at Dunhill, will take over as CEO on an interim basis. In this role he reports directly to Fortunato.