Written by Véronique Hyland, CNN
On the cover of Vogue , breaking the news that Mercedes-Benz founder Peter B. Mercedes had died and the appointed heir to the throne of the principality of Luxembourg would be French businessman, group chief executive officer and also scion of the luxury-goods dynasty, Frederic Arnault.
What made the adoption such a major political event was the fact that Arnault’s commitment to his newly endowed title, as it still points out on the exterior of his office, was anything but conventional.
During this trip to the French capital, Arnault — who is the first Christian Dior brand representative to do so — was also in the City of Light for the opening of his first store, a new luxury shopping destination called Faubourg Saint Germain.
His offices were a similar showcase. The walls were covered in photographs of the Arnaaults to give the space an air of historical memories.
It was in the lobby that the Taittinger champagne brand decided to honour Arnault’s acquisition of its property, adjacent to the Cailler-Archà.
While all of the assets have entered into the hands of the young chairman, his chief role as heir is having an impact on everything at Taittinger. “With the re-birth of the Company, two generations now have access to a well-established historic estate.”
Jean-Christophe Babin, the father of British supermodel Jourdan Dunn, is chief executive of Lanvin, as well as godfather to “just six out of a hundred models,” according to the fashion house’s website.
