LVMH names new president of Parfums Christian Dior

By

Adrien Communier

Published
Nov 6, 2019

Paris-based luxury group LVMH has named Laurent Kleitman as the new president and CEO of Parfums Christian Dior, a role in which he replaces Claude Martinez, who is stepping down after more than 19 years at the head of the division, according to French daily newspaper Le Figaro. 

Kleitman is no stranger to the beauty industry, having worked at Unilever for close to 20 years, nor is he a new face at LVMH, where he previously served as head of Dior in Russia for over three years. Following this, the executive returned to Unilever, taking on the role of CEO of the company's subsidiary in Russia, Ukraine and Belarus. In May 2017 he joined Coty as president of the group's consumer beauty division.

Martinez, his predecessor at the helm of Parfums Christian Dior, notably helped make the brand one of the most profitable businesses in the LVMH group's perfume and cosmetics division. Parfums Chrstian Dior's product portfolio includes the iconic fragrances J'Adore, Miss Dior and Sauvage. 

LVMH's perfume and cosmetics division reported a 12% year-over-year increase in sales in the first quarter of 2019.