NEW YORK, Aug. 21, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Luxury fashion house J. Mendel today announced the appointment of Marc Durie in the new and expanded role of President and Chief Executive Officer.
"I am delighted that Marc Durie is joining the J. Mendel team in this pivotal role," said Gilles Mendel, Chief Creative Officer and fifth-generation family member of J. Mendel. "After conducting a thorough search with our partners, The Gores Group, we are convinced that Marc is the right leader for J. Mendel's future. His intimate knowledge of the luxury universe, along with his considerable experience in key international markets, makes him well-poised to achieve successful growth of the J. Mendel brand around the world. I very much look forward to partnering with him."
A graduate of Ecole de Management de Lyon, Marc Durie began his career in product management at Louis Vuitton, before moving to Yves Saint Laurent in 2003. With an extensive background in merchandising and strategic marketing, Durie was part of the leadership team that engineered the successful turnaround of the house of Yves Saint Laurent. Between 2008 and 2011, he served as president of Yves Saint Laurent Asia Pacific, doubling the regional footprint and spearheading successful expansion into China. He returned to Louis Vuitton in 2011 as Vice President, Merchandising, Asia Pacific, where he was responsible for product and visual merchandising in 13 countries.
"The possibility to develop the global potential of an ultra luxury brand synonymous with exclusivity, femininity and craftsmanship, with its two ateliers in the very heart of Manhattan, comes rarely. I am truly excited about this opportunity," Durie said.
Durie will relocate to New York from Hong Kong to assume his role at J. Mendel.
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J. Mendel, a five-generation French atelier, has evolved into a global luxury fashion house. Continuing in the couture tradition and fur savoir-faire of his ancestors, designer Gilles Mendel is known for combining the highest quality materials and impeccable craftsmanship with a modern, award-winning design sensibility. Based in New York since the 1980s, J. Mendel's signature luxe-femininity and effortless elegance has become a red-carpet favorite among international royalty and Hollywood stars alike.
The Gores Group, LLC is a global investment firm focused on acquiring controlling interests in mature and growing businesses that can benefit from the firm's operating experience and flexible capital base. The firm combines the operational expertise and detailed due diligence capabilities of a strategic buyer with the seasoned M&A team of a traditional financial buyer. The Gores Group, which was founded in 1987 by Alec E. Gores, has become a leading investor having demonstrated over time a reliable track record of creating value in its portfolio companies alongside management. Headquartered in Los Angeles, The Gores Group maintains offices in Boulder, CO, and London. For more information, please visit www.gores.com.
