Founder Profile
Henry Racamier
Last reviewed: October 2026 · By Swet Parvadiya
Who is Henry Racamier?
Henry Racamier is a founder of LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE, which was founded in 1987 with Alain Chevalier and Bernard Arnault.
- Company founded
- LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE
- Founded
- 1987
- Co-founders
- Alain Chevalier and Bernard Arnault
Background
A French industrialist who ran a steel distribution business before taking over Louis Vuitton in his mid-60s.
Founding Story
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. He co-founded LVMH in 1987, then lost a long fight for control to Bernard Arnault and left in 1990. He later founded the Orcofi investment group.
Henry Racamier was born in 1912 in Pont-de-Roide-Vermondans. Education: HEC Paris.
Henri Serge Racamier was born on June 25, 1912 and died on March 29, 2003. He is credited with turning Louis Vuitton into an international brand.