Lacoste announces the appointment of Eric Vallat as CEO, starting September 1, 2025. Vallat will succeed Thierry Guibert, who has served as CEO of Lacoste since 2015 and will now be CEO of MF Brands Group and of the Maus Frères Group.
Lacoste announces the appointment of Eric Vallat as CEO
A graduate of HEC Paris, Éric Vallat brings over 30 years of solid experience within global groups. He is no stranger to fashion and has held leadership roles within LVMH Group, at Louis Vuitton in Europe and Christian Dior Couture in Japan, among others. He went on to lead the houses of Bonpoint and J.M. Weston, served as CEO of Rémy Martin, and later oversaw the entire Fashion and Accessories Division of the Richemont Group. Most recently, he served as CEO of the Rémy Cointreau Group.
“I’ve had the privilege of leading Lacoste for over a decade, surrounded by remarkable teams, and of supporting the profound transformation that has taken the brand into an entirely new dimension, and have now chosen to refocus my role on leading the Group,” said Thierry Guibert, CEO of Lacoste’s parent, MF Brands Group and of Maus Frères Group, which also controls the fashion brands Gant, Aigle and Technifibre. “I’m confident that Éric Vallat will build on the momentum we’ve created, with the same high standards and collective spirit, and guide Lacoste into a new chapter of growth, true to its identity while continuing to move confidently forward.
About Lacoste
René Lacoste, a legendary tennis champion in the 1920s, defied rules to innovate, invent and reinvent throughout his life. One example is the creation of the first short-sleeved polo shirt in breathable fabric that he designed to increase freedom of movement during play. This piece led to the founding of a brand capable of liberating fashion codes with elegance as its founding value.
The values that inspired René in his life are those that focus on others, fair play and generosity. This is the story of a daring player whose tenacity saw him nicknamed ‘the crocodile.’ This symbol then became his logo and went on to gain worldwide recognition. This is the story of friendship and teamwork: a spirit of cooperation that continues today in the brand’s collaborations with leading artists and designers.
At the crossroads of sport and fashion, Lacoste librates and creates movement in each person’s life by encouraging self-expression. In each collection, the timeless elegance of Lacoste is captured by a combination of creativity and tradition. A combination that enables everyone to develop their personal style by absorbing and reinterpreting the brand’s rich heritage. By making it their own. The aura of the crocodile is reinforced with every generation that wears it, becoming a sign of unity that goes beyond style. Passed down from country to country and through the generations, from one friend to another, Lacoste is steeped in emotional ties that promote it to icon status.
Whether the tennis sweater from the 1930s adopted by English casuals and American preppies in the 1980s, the famous polo shirt taken up by French rappers in the 1990s and Japanese ice skaters in 2020, or the pleated skirt worn by all women seeking freedom of movement, people across the world have made Lacoste their own. A love for the crocodile made Lacoste a cult brand, creating a sense of belonging that connects cultures.
Jasmeen Dugal is Associate Editor at FashionABC, contributing her insights on fashion, technology, and sustainability. She brings with herself more than two decades of editorial experience, working for national newspapers and luxury magazines in India.
Jasmeen Dugal has worked with exchange4media as a senior writer contributing articles on the country’s advertising and marketing movements, and then with Condenast India as Net Editor where she helmed Vogue India’s official website in terms of design, layout and daily content. Besides this, she is also an entrepreneur running her own luxury portal, Explosivefashion, which highlights the latest in luxury fashion and hospitality.
