Gerard Wertheimer

Early Life

Gérard Wertheimer was born on April 17, 1951, in Paris, France, into a Jewish family. His father, Jacques Wertheimer, was a businessman, and his mother, Eliane Fischer, was a homemaker. Gérard's grandfather, Pierre Wertheimer, co-founded Chanel with Coco Chanel.

Rise to Success

The Wertheimer family has been involved with Chanel since 1924, when Pierre Wertheimer partnered with Coco Chanel to create Parfums Chanel. Gérard and his brother Alain took full control of Chanel in the 1990s after their father passed away. Under their ownership, Chanel has become one of the most valuable luxury brands in the world. Gerard Wertheimer oversees Chanel's watch division and also the family's vineyards and horse racing stable.

Key Business Strategies

Gérard Wertheimer, along with his brother Alain, has focused on maintaining Chanel as a private company, allowing for a long-term focus on brand preservation and expansion. They made an innovative decision to hire Karl Lagerfeld as chief designer to revive the Chanel brand in 1983.

Philanthropy

Gérard's wife, Valérie, is active in child protection charities. Gérard, along with his wife, is also involved in activities related to opposing child pornography.