HAILED BY YALE: Bernard Arnault, chairman and chief executive officer of LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, “embodies the rare combination of business acumen, strategic discipline, aesthetic sensitivity, moral courage, and cultural stewardship that defines history’s most influential leaders.”
So said Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, senior associate dean for leadership studies at the Yale School of Management, as the university bestowed the French luxury titan with its Yale Legend in Leadership Award on Wednesday during its Yale CEO Summit in New York City.
Arnault was nominated by past award winners and confirmed by Yale faculty members.
The Legend in Leadership prize was established 35 years ago and has been awarded to the likes of Tim Cook, CEO of Apple; Larry Fink, chair and CEO of BlackRock; Doug McMillon, CEO of Walmart; Brian C. Cornell, chair and CEO of Target Corp., and Paul Polman, CEO of Unilever PLC.
Michael Burke, chairman and CEO of LVMH Americas, accepted the trophy on Arnault’s behalf from Ivanka Trump, Anna Wintour, and Stephen Schwarzman, chairman and CEO of Blackstone chairman and CEO. The event was livestreamed on CNBC.com and Arnault delivered an acceptance speech in English via a live video link from Paris.
“We are part of French history. Very often when I travel around the world, I feel myself like a kind of ambassador, not only a businessman,” Arnault related, given that his family-controlled luxury group is the steward of so many European heritage brands, from Christian Dior, Louis Vuitton and Givenchy to wine maker Château d’Yquem, whose origins date back to 1593.
“I am proud that the group has built continuously, has grown continuously because we are showing something in the world for which the interest of people is constantly growing,” he added.
Sonnenfeld described Arnault as “among the rare titans whose vision has reshaped not just business, but culture and society more broadly. His leadership illuminates the extraordinary possibilities that emerge when commercial imagination is paired with cultural vision, civic engagement, social impact, and long-term stewardship.
“Under his stewardship, LVMH became the first European company to surpass a $500 billion valuation, transforming a constellation of independent, often family-run ‘maisons’ into a pioneering global powerhouse — without ever sacrificing their soul, heritage, or devotion to meticulous craftsmanship,” he continued. “As the architect of the modern luxury industry, he has shown that genuine leadership in this realm is not about excess but about excellence; not about exclusivity but about enduring cultural contribution.”
Arnault has served as chairman and CEO of LVMH since 1989.
