Louis Vuitton 2023: Pietro Beccari replaces Michael Burke as Chairman and CEO (February 1, 2023), then appoints Pharrell Williams as men's creative director (February 14, 2023)
On January 11, 2023, LVMH announced two of the most significant executive changes in its portfolio in a decade. Pietro Beccari, the longtime Italian luxury executive who had been CEO of Christian Dior Couture since 2018 and CEO of Fendi before that (2012-2018), was named Chairman and CEO of Louis Vuitton effective February 1, 2023. He replaced Michael Burke, who had led Louis Vuitton for roughly a decade. Beccari's first major decision was to fill the men's creative-director chair that had been vacant since Virgil Abloh's death in November 2021. On February 14, 2023, Louis Vuitton announced that Pharrell Williams — the musician and producer who had previously collaborated with Louis Vuitton on sunglasses (2004) and jewelry — would be Men's Creative Director, effective immediately. Williams' first collection was presented during Paris Fashion Week menswear in June 2023.
- Story: On January 11, 2023, LVMH announced a leadership change at its two largest brands. Pietro Beccari was named Chairman and CEO of Louis Vuitton effective February 1, 2023, replacing Michael Burke after Burke's decade at the brand. Beccari had been Chairman and CEO of Dior since 2018 (and CEO of Fendi 2012-2018). Six weeks later, on February 14, 2023, Beccari named Pharrell Williams — the musician and producer — as Men's Creative Director, effective immediately. The role had been vacant since Virgil Abloh's death in November 2021.
- Why it matters: Williams became the second Black American designer to hold a lead position at Louis Vuitton, after Abloh. His first collection was presented during Paris Fashion Week menswear in June 2023 — a five-month preparation window. Beccari subsequently took on additional Group responsibility as Chairman and CEO of LVMH Fashion Group.
- Takeaway: Nicolas Ghesquière has continued as Women's Creative Director through both the Burke and Beccari eras (since 2013).
- Takeaway: Pharrell's appointment continued the pattern Virgil Abloh established — bringing a culturally significant non-traditional creative director into the lead role.
- Takeaway: LVMH consolidates Louis Vuitton revenue into the Fashion and Leather Goods segment along with Dior and others — brand-level revenue is not separately disclosed.
Louis Vuitton's 2023 reshuffle
Louis Vuitton 2023 changes
Quick facts
The January 11, 2023 LVMH executive reshuffle
On January 11, 2023, LVMH announced two major leadership changes effective February 1, 2023. Pietro Beccari moved from Chairman and CEO of Christian Dior Couture to Chairman and CEO of Louis Vuitton, replacing Michael Burke. Burke had run Louis Vuitton for approximately a decade and was widely credited with the bag-collection expansion under Nicolas Ghesquière's women's creative direction. To replace Beccari at Dior, LVMH named Delphine Arnault — Bernard Arnault's eldest child and a nine-year veteran of Louis Vuitton product leadership — as the new CEO of Dior. The reshuffle was widely read as both a deployment of LVMH's most-proven brand operator (Beccari) to the group's largest brand and a succession-planning signal from Bernard Arnault.
The February 14, 2023 Pharrell Williams appointment
Six weeks after taking the Louis Vuitton role, Beccari announced Pharrell Williams as Men's Creative Director, effective immediately. The role had been vacant since the death of Virgil Abloh on November 28, 2021. Williams' appointment was structurally unusual: he was best known as a musician and producer (N.E.R.D., 'Happy,' the Neptunes), not as a trained fashion designer. He had collaborated with Louis Vuitton on sunglasses in 2004 and on a jewelry collection more recently. His first Louis Vuitton collection was presented during Paris Fashion Week menswear in June 2023 — a five-month preparation window. With Williams' appointment, he became the second Black American designer to hold a lead position at Louis Vuitton, succeeding Virgil Abloh, who had been the first.
Pietro Beccari's track record across LVMH portfolio brands
Pietro Beccari joined LVMH at Louis Vuitton (in marketing roles) earlier in his career, but the track record that made him Louis Vuitton's chairman and CEO was built at Fendi (CEO 2012-2018) and Christian Dior Couture (Chairman and CEO 2018-February 2023). At both Fendi and Dior, Beccari is associated with significant revenue growth and brand-momentum acceleration. In 2024, beyond running Louis Vuitton, Beccari took on additional responsibility as Chairman and CEO of LVMH Fashion Group, expanding his portfolio oversight across LVMH's largest division.
Frequently asked questions
When did Pietro Beccari actually start at Louis Vuitton?
His appointment as Chairman and CEO of Louis Vuitton was announced on January 11, 2023, and took effect on February 1, 2023. Before Louis Vuitton, he had been CEO of Christian Dior Couture since 2018, and CEO of Fendi before that (2012-2018) — all within LVMH portfolio brands.
Why did Louis Vuitton hire Pharrell Williams when he isn't a trained designer?
Beccari's stated rationale, supported by Bernard Arnault, was that Williams brought cultural relevance and creative direction that extended beyond traditional fashion training. Williams had collaborated with Louis Vuitton previously — on sunglasses in 2004 and on a jewelry collection — and the appointment continued the Virgil Abloh pattern of bringing in a culturally significant non-traditional creative director. Williams was the second Black American designer to lead a Louis Vuitton creative direction, after Abloh.
When did Virgil Abloh die?
Virgil Abloh died on November 28, 2021, after a private battle with cardiac angiosarcoma, a rare and aggressive cancer. He had been Louis Vuitton's Men's Creative Director since March 2018, having been the first Black American designer in a lead creative role at the house. He was 41 years old.
Who runs Louis Vuitton's women's creative direction?
Nicolas Ghesquière joined Louis Vuitton as Artistic Director of Women's Collections in 2013. His tenure has spanned Michael Burke's CEO era and Pietro Beccari's. As of the 2023 reshuffle, he remained in his role; readers researching 2025+ status should check current LVMH announcements.
How big is Louis Vuitton in LVMH's portfolio?
LVMH does not separately disclose Louis Vuitton revenue. Louis Vuitton is consolidated into LVMH's Fashion and Leather Goods segment, which also contains Dior, Loro Piana, Celine, Loewe, Givenchy, and other brands. Industry analyst estimates put Louis Vuitton at the largest single brand in the LVMH portfolio by revenue, but the specific figure is not in primary disclosures.
Sources & references
- Pietro Beccari (LVMH group governance page) — LVMH's official page on Beccari covering his Louis Vuitton role and additional Fashion Group leadership.
- Pharrell Williams will be Louis Vuitton's next men's creative director (CNN, February 14, 2023) — CNN coverage of the February 14, 2023 announcement.
- Pharrell Williams appointed creative director of menswear at Louis Vuitton (Dezeen, February 15, 2023) — Coverage with detail on Pharrell's June 2023 first-show timing.
- All Change at LVMH: Pietro Beccari Heads to Vuitton, Delphine Arnault Named CEO of Dior (WWD) — WWD coverage of the January 11, 2023 reshuffle.
- Pietro Beccari is appointed head of the LVMH Fashion Group (LVMH) — LVMH announcement of Beccari's additional responsibilities as Chairman and CEO of LVMH Fashion Group.
- Pietro Beccari profile (Business of Fashion) — BoF profile of Beccari's career trajectory.