We are pleased to announce the appointment of Marcello Bottoli as President and CEO of Louis Vuitton Malletier, effective in September 2001. Mr. Bottoli will report to Yves Carcelle, President of the LVMH Fashion Group which includes, besides Louis Vuitton, Loewe, Celine, Berluti, Kenzo, Givenchy, Christian Lacroix, Fendi, StefanoBi, Emilio Pucci, Marc Jacobs and Thomas Pink.
Marcello Bottoli, 39, an Italian citizen, is currently a member of the Reckitt Benckiser Group Executive Committee. He is responsible for Marketing, Research & Development, the Internet, Market Research and Media worldwide as well as for the pharmaceutical activities.
Previously, from 1991 to 1999, Mr. Bottoli held various positions at Benckiser where he was successively Marketing and Research & Development Director for the company's Spanish subsidiary, President of Benckiser Saint Marc in France, and Executive Vice President responsible for Marketing, Research & Development, Market Research and media. He was also in charge of developing and overseeing Benckiser's businesses in the Far and Middle East regions.
During that time, Mr. Bottoli was a member of the management team that led Benckiser's IPO on the Amsterdam and New York stock exchanges in 1997 and, subsequently, the merger with the British group Reckitt & Colman to create Reckitt Benckiser in 1999.
Prior to joining Benckiser, Marcello Bottoli also held marketing positions at Procter & Gamble in Paris and Cincinnati and worked as a consultant with the Boston Consulting Group in Paris and Milan. Mr. Bottoli graduated in Business Administration from Bocconi University in Milan.
Yves Carcelle noted: "We are pleased to welcome Marcello Bottoli at the head of Louis Vuitton Malletier. His considerable international experience acquired both in Europe, the U.S. and Asia, as well as his recognized skills in marketing and managing multinational businesses will be assets to Louis Vuitton, the number one luxury brand in the world".