The Gucci Group has named Valerie Hermann Chief Executive Officer of Yves Saint Laurent. 41-year-old Hermann, a graduate of French business school Ecole des Hautes Etudes Commerciales (HEC), joins Yves Saint Laurent from Christian Dior and is considered as one of the most dynamic executives in LVMH, the giant French luxury group that is the Gucci Group’s most direct rival.

She has been head of women’s ready-to-wear at Christian Dior since 1999 and was also President of the John Galliano brand. Hermann succeeds James McArthur, who has been temporary CEO of Yves Saint Laurent since November and remains as Executive Vice President of Gucci Group and Director of Strategy and Acquisitions, and will join the company during the second quarter of 2005.

“Valerie Hermann brings a great combination of fashion experience and business skills to Yves Saint Laurent and I’m delighted that she will be joining us,” said Robert Polet, President and Chief Executive Officer of Gucci Group, as reports FWD.

“Over the past five years, Yves Saint Laurent has been reestablished as a high end luxury brand, has greatly developed its accessories lines to complement its core ready-to-wear and has built up a network of directly-operated stores in prime locations. Yves Saint Laurent has fantastic growth potential, and with Valerie Hermann as CEO and Stefano Pilati as Creative Director, we have a very strong management and design team to take the brand forward,” he added.