FRANCE. Lacoste SA, owner of the Lacoste fashion brand, has welcomed the arrival of José Luis Duran as head of Devanlay, the worldwide licensee of its apparel line.
Duran, former CEO of the Carrefour Group, replaces Guy Latourrette, whom Lacoste thanked for his “essential role” in the development of the French brand, known for its signature crocodile logo.
Duran’s arrival at Devanlay, effective 1 July 2009, “demonstrates the attractiveness of the Lacoste brand and confirms its partner Devanlay’s ambition to continue to make the crocodile [brand] grow,” the French company said.
Lacoste controls and co-ordinates licences granted to nine partners: Devanlay for apparel, Pentland for footwear, Procter & Gamble for fragrances, Samsonite for leathergoods, Charmant for eyewear, Movado for watches, Zucchi (Uchino and Japan) for home textiles, Collaert for belts and ModeLabs Group for mobile phones. The latter licence was announced last month.
The first Lacoste mobile phone – available next year – will be faithful to the values of elegance and simplicity which constitute the DNA of the brand, according to Lacoste.
Custom-designed by Lacoste Design Director Christophe Pillet in collaboration with the design team of ModeLabs Group, the interface, content and services integrated in the phone will be customised.
“With this mobile phone, Lacoste wishes to offer its customers a unique and different experience,” explained Lacoste CEO Christophe Chenut.
About Lacoste
Lacoste products for men, women and children include sports and leisure apparel, footwear, fragrances, leathergoods, eyewear, watches, home textiles, belts and, from next year, a mobile phone. One of the best known global brands, Lacoste achieved a wholesale turnover of €1.5bn in 2008. In the 113 countries where the brand is present, two Lacoste products are sold every second through more than 1,050 Lacoste stores, over 2,000 corners in department stores and a selective distribution network.
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