Jean-Louis Dumas

Hermès announced the passing of Jean-Louis Dumas, Chairman of Hermès from 1978 to 2006, and a Commander of the Légion d’Honneur. Mr Dumas died last Saturday at his home in Paris. He was 72. The grandson of Emile-Hermès, Jean-Louis Dumas joined Hermès in 1964.
He became the Chief Executive Officer in 1971, and revived the flagging fortunes of Hermès in the late 1970s, and in his nearly 30 years in this capacity, transformed it into one of the world’s most successful luxury brands.
Mr Dumas's dynamic, charismatic and media-friendly initiatives, his creative spirit and his work devoted to Hermès have enabled the company to develop considerably yet harmoniously. He was passionate about creation, quality and the needs of everyone and has woven deep ties with employees, suppliers and clients. All those who worked with him remember the demanding quality of his vision, his drive to continually surprise and his talent as both a designer and a businessman. Mr Dumas, who retired in 2006 because of ill health, always carried an old Leica with him, taking pictures constantly. In 2008, Steidl published a collection of his photographs Jean-Louis Dumas: Photographer.
He is survived by their two children, Sandrine, a film actress, and Pierre-Alexis, the artistic director of Hermès.