Bernard Arnault - a successful French entrepreneur, for many years topping the lists of the richest people not only in France but also in the world. Since the late 1980s, he has led the LVMH group of companies, and is currently its main shareholder.
short biography
Bernard Arnault, whose full name sounds like Bernard Jean Etienne Arnault, was born on March 5, 1949 in the city of Roubaix, France. His family owned a construction company, Ferret-Savinel. At the head of the family business was Bernard's father, Jean Leon Arnault.
St. Martin's Church in Roubaix Photo: Velvet / Wikimedia Commons
After receiving a secondary education, he entered the Ecole Polytechnique higher education institution, which is famous for the training of highly qualified specialists, and graduated in 1971 with a degree in engineering.
Career and creativity
After graduating from college, Bernard Arnault joined the family business. An ambitious young man immediately began to plan the expansion of the company. To begin with, he convinced his father to sell one of the divisions of the company, and invest the funds received in a more profitable business.
Speech by B. Arnault Photo: Jeremy Barande / Wikimedia Commons
In 1981, the power in France passed to the socialists and the Arnault family decided to move to the United States, where they built a successful real estate business. By 1983, the political situation in France began to change and Arnault decided to return to his homeland.
During this period, an entrepreneurial businessman acquired the bankrupt textile empire of Boussac Saint-Freres, which also included the Christian Dior fashion house. In 1985, Arnaud took over as CEO of Dior, and by early 1989, he controlled more than 40 percent of LVMH. Soon he headed the executive council by unanimous decision of its members.
Donald Trump's visit to LVMH Photo: The White House from Washington, DC / Wikimedia Commons
Heading LVMH, he made personnel changes, firing several top managers. In their place were invited young talented specialists who could revive the company.
Arno was a rather tough leader who easily dismissed employees who did not meet his professional expectations. During the 1990s, he confidently implemented his ambitious plan to expand the company. In 1994, he joined well-known brands with LVMH, including Sephora, Guerlain, Marc Jacobs and others.
