Bernard Arnault (pronounced: [bɛʁnaːʁ aʁno]) (born 5 March 1949) is a French businessman best known as the chairman and CEO of the French conglomerate LVMH.According to Forbes Magazine, Arnault is the world's 4th and Europe's richest person, with a 2011 net worth of US$41 billion.In 1987, shortly after the creation of LVMH, Mr Arnault exploited a growing conflict between Alain Chevalier, Moët Hennessy's CEO, and Henri Racamier, president of Louis Vuitton. The new group held property rights to Dior perfumes, which Arnault craved to incorporate into Dior Couture. He created a holding company of which he owned 60% and Guinness, who had a distribution agreement with Moët-Hennessy, owned 40%. Following the October 1987 stock market crash, he capitalized on the lower quoted price and soon owned 43% of LVMH. He then consolidated his position by purging executives from both companies including appointing his father Jean Leon Arnault Chairman of the Supervisory board before officially taking over as Chairman & CEO in 1989.
In 2007, he acquired 10.69% of France's largest supermarket retailer and the world's second largest food distributor, Carrefour through his Blue Capital, which is jointly owned by California property firm Colony Capital.He has since then led the company through an ambitious development plan, turning it into one of the largest luxury groups in the world, alongside Swiss luxury giant Richemont and French based PPR Group.Among other companies, Arnault also owned the art auction house, Phillips de Pury & Company from 1999 to 2003.LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton is the world's largest luxury goods company, with brands that are bywords for the good life and everything showy. LVMH makes wines and spirits (Dom Pérignon, Moët & Chandon, Veuve Clicquot, and Hennessy), perfumes (Christian Dior, Guerlain, and Givenchy), cosmetics (Bliss, Fresh, and BeneFit), fashion and leather goods (Donna Karan, Givenchy, Kenzo, and Louis Vuitton), and watches and jewelry (TAG Heuer, Ebel, Chaumet, and Fred). LVMH's selective retail division includes Sephora cosmetics stores, Le Bon Marché Paris department stores, and 61% of DFS Group (duty-free shops).
François Pinault (born 21 August 1936) is a French businessman who runs the retail company PPR. He is a friend of former French President Jacques Chirac.
His holding company Artemis S.A., owns (or owned), among others, Converse shoes, Samsonite luggage, Château Latour, the Vail Ski Resort in Colorado, and Christie's auction house. Artemis also owns Executive Life (now Aurora Life) in California, which was sued by policy holders when the company failed.As of 2011 PPR's main subsidiaries include:
The Gucci Group
Gucci
Bottega Veneta
Yves Saint Laurent
Balenciaga
Alexander McQueen (50%)
Boucheron
Sergio Rossi
Stella McCartney (50%).
Redcats
La Redoute
Daxon
Vertbaudet
Cyrillus
Somewhere
Ellos
Redcats USA
Avenue
Brylane Home
OneStopPlus.com
Woman Within
Jessica London
Roaman's
KingSize
Sportsman's Guide, The
The Golf Warehouse
Fullbeauty.com
Puma Group (70%)
PUMA
Cobra Golf
Tretorn
Fnac (100%)
Investments
CFAO, a distributor of cars and pharmaceuticals in Africa and the DOM-TOM was a wholly owned subsidiary of PPR until December 2009, when a majority stake was listed on Euronext Paris. PPR retains 42% of the firm, but it is no longer considered a subsidiary.PPR's chief competitors in luxury goods conglomerates are LVMH and Richemont.
Amancio Ortega Gaona (born March 28, 1936) is a Spanish fashion entrepreneur. He is the founder, along with his then-wife Rosalía Mera, and chairman of the Inditex Group. He is ranked by Forbes as Spain's richest man; Europe's second richest man; and the seventh richest man in the world in 2011.Ortega keeps a very low profile and there are practically no photographs of him (except from one photo published at the Inditex website). He refuses to wear a tie, and likes to dress in blue jeans and T-shirts. He is said to take a very active part in the production and design process in the company.Style maven lords over Inditex; fashion firm, which operates under several brand names including Zara, Massimo Dutti and Stradivarius,Zara Home, Kiddy's Class, Tempe, Stradivarius, Pull and Bear/Often and Bershka and has more than 92,000 employees.With 4,500 stores in 73 countries including new spots in Mexico and Syria. Set up joint venture with Tata Group subsidiary to enter India in 2010. Betting on Florida real estate: bought Coral Gables office tower that is currently home to Bacardi USA. Also owns a luxury apartment complex in Miami; properties in Madrid, Paris, London and Lisbon, a horse-jumping circuit, an interest in a soccer league; has investments in gas, tourism and banks. Railway worker's son started as a gofer in a shirt store. With then-wife Rosalia Mera, also a billionaire, started making dressing gowns and lingerie in living room. Shuns neckties and fanfare. Daughter Marta works for Inditex; speculation has it she's being groomed to eventually replace her father.
Location:Europe
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