LVMH vs Malabar Gold and Diamonds: Founders, CEOs and History
LVMH was founded in 1987 by Alain Chevalier, Henry Racamier, Bernard Arnault and is led by Bernard Arnault. Malabar Gold and Diamonds was founded in 1993 by M.P. Ahammed and is led by M.P. Ahammed.
Company facts
LVMH
- Founded
- 1987
- Headquarters
- Paris, France
- Current CEO
- Bernard Arnault
- Employees
- 211,000
Malabar Gold and Diamonds
- Founded
- 1993
- Headquarters
- Kozhikode, Kerala, India
- Current CEO
- M.P. Ahammed
- Employees
- 21,000
Founders
LVMH
Alain Chevalier
Alain Chevalier was the head of Moet Hennessy, itself formed in 1971 from the merger of Moet & Chandon and Hennessy. In 1987 he negotiated the merger with Louis Vuitton that created LVMH and became its chairman.
Henry Racamier
Henry Racamier ran Louis Vuitton from 1977 after a career in steel distribution. He had married into the Vuitton family and grew the trunk maker from a couple of stores into a global retailer by taking control of its distribution.
Bernard Arnault
Bernard Arnault, born in 1949 in Roubaix, France, is the Chairman and CEO of LVMH.
Malabar Gold and Diamonds
M.P. Ahammed
M.P. Ahammed is the founder and chairman of Malabar Group. A former spice and copra trader from Kozhikode, he opened the first Malabar Gold showroom there in 1993 with relatives and co-investors.
CEOs and their tenures
LVMH
- Alain Chevalier1987–1989
Co-Founder
Alain Chevalier was a co-founder of LVMH. As CEO of Moët Hennessy, he orchestrated the historic 1987 merger with Louis Vuitton (led by Henry Racamier) to prevent takeover threats and create a global luxury conglomerate, before eventually stepping down followin…
Source - Bernard Arnault1989–present
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Arnault built LVMH into the largest luxury group by revenue, pairing creative independence at each maison with central financial control. Revenue reached ~$97.4B (EUR 86.2B) in 2023 and ~$91.3B (EUR 80.8B) in 2025.
Source - Stephane Bianchi2024–present
Group Managing Director
Oversees operations across the maisons after previously leading LVMH Watches and serving as CEO of Yves Rocher Group.
Source - Cecile Cabanis2025–present
Chief Financial Officer
Runs group finance; previously CFO of Danone.
Source
Malabar Gold and Diamonds
- Shamlal Ahamed
Managing Director, India Operations
Oversees expansion beyond southern India into northern, western and eastern states.
Source - O. Asher
Managing Director, International Operations
Runs the international network of more than 150 stores.
Source - M.P. Ahammed1993–present
Founder & Chairman, Malabar Group
Grew Malabar from one Kozhikode store into a chain of 425+ showrooms in 14 countries with about $7.31 billion (₹63,000 crore) turnover in FY2024-25.
Source
Timeline: LVMH and Malabar Gold and Diamonds side by side
1987LVMH
The Defensive Merger
Moët Hennessy and Louis Vuitton merge, launching as an unified defense against hostile corporate takeovers.
1989LVMH
The Arnault Coup
Exploiting bitter family feuds, Bernard Arnault executes a hostile takeover, seizing control of the LVMH conglomerate.
1993Malabar Gold and Diamonds
First Showroom Opens in Kozhikode, Kerala: M.P. Ahammed and founding partners establish the first Malabar Gold showroom in Kozhikode with 50 lakh in capital, introducing transparent gold purity practi…
1997LVMH
The Sephora Buyout
To pivot to direct retail, LVMH acquires Sephora, expanding its global distribution power for cosmetics and perfumes.
2000Malabar Gold and Diamonds
Pioneering 100% BIS Hallmarked Jewellery: Becomes one of the first jewellers in India to sell exclusively Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) hallmarked 916 gold, years before hallmarking was legally man…
2008Malabar Gold and Diamonds
Inauguration of First International Store in Dubai: Malabar Gold opens its first international showroom in the historic Dubai Gold Souk, UAE, commencing its multi-billion-dollar Middle Eastern expansi…
2011LVMH
The Bulgari Acquisition
Expanding into hard luxury, LVMH acquires Italian jeweler Bulgari, establishing itself as a dominant force in high-end watches and jewelry.
2013Malabar Gold and Diamonds
Entry into Singapore and Malaysia: Expands into Southeast Asia with flagship showrooms on Little India's Serangoon Road in Singapore and Jalan Masjid India in Kuala Lumpur.
2018Malabar Gold and Diamonds
Debut in the United States: Opens its first North American showroom in Chicago (Devon Avenue), followed by expansions into Dallas, New Jersey, and Artesia (Los Angeles).
2020Malabar Gold and Diamonds
Launch of 'One India One Gold Rate' Campaign: Introduces uniform gold pricing across all Indian states, ending state-level price discrepancies and giving consumers complete price certainty.
2021LVMH
The Tiffany Mega-Deal
Dominating the American market, the firm completes its $15.8 billion buyout of Tiffany & Co., proving the dominance of its acquisition engine.
2022LVMH
Acquired Pedemonte Group
LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton acquired Pedemonte Group in November 2022.
2023Malabar Gold and Diamonds
Launch of First UK Showroom in London: Inaugurates its flagship UK store on Green Street, London, marking Malabar's official retail entry into the European continent.
2024Malabar Gold and Diamonds
FY2023-24 Turnover Passes ₹50,000 Crore: reports ~$5.94 billion (₹51,218 crore) global retail turnover with 345 stores in 13 countries.
2025LVMH
Arnault age limit raised to 85
Shareholders approved raising the CEO age limit from 80 to 85, and LVMH began a 10-year Formula 1 partnership.
2025Malabar Gold and Diamonds
400th Showroom Opens in Noida: targets ~$9.05 billion (₹78,000 crore) turnover for FY2025-26.
2026LVMH
Return to organic growth
LVMH reported ~$43.6B (EUR 38.6B) in H1 2026 revenue with organic growth accelerating to 3% in the second quarter.
2026Malabar Gold and Diamonds
Passes 425 showrooms and announces 20 new Indian stores for ~$183 million (₹1,580 crore).
Acquisitions
Malabar Gold and Diamonds
No verified acquisitions are listed.
Questions about LVMH vs Malabar Gold and Diamonds
Who is the CEO of LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE and Malabar Gold and Diamonds?
LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE is led by Bernard Arnault and Malabar Gold and Diamonds is led by M.P. Ahammed. Both serve as the top executive responsible for the company's strategy, operations, and financial performance.
When was LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE founded vs Malabar Gold and Diamonds?
LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE was founded in 1987 — 6 years before Malabar Gold and Diamonds, which was founded in 1993. LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE's longer operating history gives it a deeper track record but also potentially more institutional inertia compared to the younger Malabar Gold and Diamonds.
How many employees does LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE have compared to Malabar Gold and Diamonds?
LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE employs approximately 211,000 people, while Malabar Gold and Diamonds employs approximately 21,000. LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE has the larger workforce at 211,000 employees, compared to Malabar Gold and Diamonds's 21,000. A higher headcount does not necessarily imply greater efficiency — it often reflects differences in business model (e.g., manufacturing vs. software).
Where are LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE and Malabar Gold and Diamonds headquartered?
LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE is headquartered in France and Malabar Gold and Diamonds is headquartered in India. Their different home markets mean they may face different regulatory frameworks, tax regimes, and currency exposure.
Who founded LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE and Malabar Gold and Diamonds?
LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE was founded by Alain Chevalier, Henry Racamier, Bernard Arnault. Malabar Gold and Diamonds was founded by M.P. Ahammed.
Which company has a longer operating history — LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE or Malabar Gold and Diamonds?
LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE has been operating for approximately 39 years, making it the more established of the two companies. Malabar Gold and Diamonds has been in operation for around 33 years. A longer operating history often signals greater institutional resilience and brand recognition, though it can also mean slower adaptation to new market conditions.
Figures come from each company's filings and the sources linked beside them. Amounts reported in another currency are shown in US dollars at an approximate rate and marked with ~. Back to the LVMH vs Malabar Gold and Diamonds overview