Patrick Thomas (businessman)
Patrick Thomas (born 16 June 1947) is a French business executive. He was the chief executive officer (CEO) of the fashion house Hermès from 2003 to 2014.
Patrick Thomas | |
---|---|
Born | Burgundy region, France | 16 June 1947
Education | ESCP Business School |
Occupation | Businessman |
Title | Former CEO, Hermès |
Term | 2003-2014 |
Predecessor | Jean-Louis Dumas |
Successor | Axel Dumas |
Early life
Thomas was born on 16 June 1947, in the Burgundy region of France to a family of winemakers, and graduated from ESCP Business School.[1]
Career
Thomas started his career in 1969 at International Telephone & Telegraph, a US manufacturing company.[2] In 1971, he joined Pampryl, a French fruit juice producer founded by his grandfather, and then owned by Pernod Ricard.[2] In 1980, he became chief financial officer (CFO) of Pernod Ricard, and later the UK managing director.[2]
In 1989, he joined Hermès as chief operating officer (COO), and left in 1997 to become CEO of Lancaster Group, a cosmetics company, and then became the first non-family member to be CEO of the scotch whisky producer William Grant & Sons.[2][3]
Thomas became CEO of Hermès in 2003, following the retirement of Jean-Louis Dumas,[2][4] until January 2014, when he retired, and was succeeded by Axel Dumas, a sixth-generation member of the Hermès-Dumas family.[2]
References
- "Hermès' Patrick Thomas: A high-fashion balancing act". The Globe and Mail.
- Hazlehurst, Jeremy (4 December 2014). "The business guru: Patrick Thomas, former chief executive of Hermès". Financial Times. Retrieved 12 July 2020.
- Cope, Rebecca (4 February 2014). "Hermes CEO Patrick Thomas retires". Harper's BAZAAR.
- Mau, Dhani. "New Hermès CEO Has Pretty Big Shoes to Fill". Fashionista.