LVMH vice president Pierre Godé dies after long illness

LVMH vice president and one of the architects of the establishment of the business, Pierre Godé, has died after a long illness, the French luxury conglomerate has announced today.

Godé was a trusted adviser to the group's chairman and chief executive Bernard Arnault who said: "Alongside my father, Jean Arnault, and then alongside me, Pierre Godé was instrumental in the creation and growth of the LVMH Group."

Arnault, who is France's richest man, said it was "with great sadness" that he announced Godé's passing, having "succumbed to a long illness". "His lively intelligence and sound judgement will be missed by all who came to know and appreciate him," he said.

Born in 1944, Godé was called to the Lille Bar at the age of 23. At the age of just 29 he was made an Associate and then progressed to be Professor of the Faculty of Lille and then of Nice.

From 1985, he worked alongside Bernard Arnault in the construction of the LVMH Group, which went on to become the world leader‎ in luxury and today comprises more than 70 "Maisons".

Board Member of Dior and of LVMH, where he became Vice Chairman‎, he was also on the Board of Havas and a member of the Competition Authority in France (l’Autorité de la Concurrence). Godé was also an Officer of the Légion d’Honneur.