LVMH CEOs of U.S.-based Global Maisons sign United Nations Women's Empowerment Principles. Marc Jacobs, Donna Karan, Edun, Belvedere Vodka, Benefit Cosmetics, Fresh, Nude Skincare, and Starboard Cruise Services Commit to Ensuring Workplace Diversity.

LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton today announced that the Group's U.S.-based Global Maisons yesterday signed the United Nations' Women's Empowerment Principles (WEPs), furthering LVMH's commitment to gender equality. LVMH promotes gender diversity and offers exceptional opportunities for development and growth across its global employee base.

"At LVMH, we are committed to the development of our talent throughout their careers with the Group. We are fully aligned with the United Nations' principle that 'Equality Means Business,' and we believe strongly that leveraging diversity drives innovation," said Chantal Gaemperle, Group Executive Vice President, Human Resources and Synergies. "We are proud that already half of our brand Presidents in the U.S. are women, but we recognize the need to continually enhance development opportunities within the organization. Building on the WEPs signing in Paris by 32 of LVMH's Global CEOs, the Group today counts 40 signatures that are a testament to our commitment to empowering our talent to reach their full career potential."

The Global CEOs of the U.S.-based Maisons who signed the WEPs include: Sebastian Suhl, CEO of Marc Jacobs International; Pierre-Yves Roussel, Chairman and CEO of LVMH Fashion Group, and Donna Karan on behalf of Donna Karan International; Janice Sullivan, CEO of Edun; Charles Gibb, President of Belvedere Vodka; Jean Andre Rougeot, CEO of Benefit Cosmetics; Jean Marc Plisson, CEO of Fresh; Anastasia Ayala, CEO of Nude Skincare; and Beth Neumann, President & CEO of Starboard Cruise Services.

The Group's Europe-based CEOs previously signed the WEPs in November 2013 and, around the world, LVMH has instituted a series of initiatives designed to ensure diversity in the workplace and to give its employees exceptional opportunities for professional development and growth.

LVMH's innovative and ambitious professional development programs and training are powerful tools through which the Group grows its talent. These include LVMH House, which has become the "Luxury Business School" and provides forums that bring together leaders from across the Group with external experts to develop new ideas around entrepreneurship and luxury brand management; EllesVMH, an initiative dedicated to promoting the advancement of women to leadership roles; and programs such as the LVMH Results in Social Entrepreneurship (RISE), which affords managers the opportunity to give back to society by assisting social entrepreneurs and in turn driving change in local communities.   In addition, the opportunity for mobility between brands, regions, and functions further enables LVMH talent development while transferring skills and know-how across the Group's businesses.

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