Kenzo, the luxury fashion house known for its iconic Flower fragrance, has announced Sylvain Blanc as CEO.
Blanc joins the LVMH-owned maison from underwear specialist Undiz, where he has been CEO since 2018. He previously held leadership roles at The Kooples and department store Printemps.
Sidney Toledano, Chairman and CEO of the LVMH Fashion Group, described Blanc as “passionate about fashion” with “extensive experience in retail”.
“He combines and entrepreneurial itinerary with a proven ability to relaunch and develop established brands. He has been tasked with opening a new chapter in the history of Kenzo,” Toledano added.
Blanc’s appointment will be effective 18 October and he succeeds Sylvie Colin, who is moving to pursue a personal project abroad, according to LVMH.
News of Kenzo’s new chief was released in the same week that the luxury label announced the hire of Japanese creator Tomoaki ‘Nigo’ Nagao as Artistic Director, effective 20 September.
Nigo was born in the same year that Takada Kenzo opened his first store in Paris and they both graduated from the same fashion school in Tokyo.
The designer, DJ and record producer is best known for creating the urban clothing line A Bathing Ape, and in 2020, he produced a capsule with Virgil Abloh for Louis Vuitton.
