Dior Appoints Francis Kurkdjian as Perfume Creation Director

Francis Kurkdjian succeeds Francois Demachy, who is stepping down for retirement.
Francis Kurkdjian succeeds Francois Demachy, who is stepping down for retirement.

Parfums Christian Dior’s perfume creation director, Francois Demachy, is stepping down for retirement and will be succeeded by Francis Kurkdjian.

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Kurkdjian assumes the post from his own perfumery, Maison Francis Kurkdjian, which he co-founded in 2009 alongside Marc Chaya. Kurkdjian will remain artistic director of his fragrance business while he steers Parfums Christian Dior.

While the news is significant for Kurkdjian, Demachy’s impact is not forgotten. He was treated to a turn in the spotlight earlier this year courtesy of Nose, a feature-length documentary from filmmakers Arthur de Kersauson and Clément Beauvais. A native of Grasse, France, Demachy is credited for revisiting J’Adore and Miss Dior with much success, while also introducing Sauvage in 2015.

Parfums Christian Dior president and chief executive officer, Laurent Kleitman, praised Kurkdjian as a visionary perfumer and passionate artist “who brings his full creative energies, savoir-faire and exacting professionalism to Dior Perfumes, crafting future Dior fragrances that will conquer the world.”

Kurkdjian said, “It is a tremendous honor for me to join Parfums Christian Dior, a maison with a richly inspiring history and a resolutely future-facing creative spirit. I am delighted to share my vision through my fragrance creations. Working at Maison Dior while continuing to create for my own maison is a great privilege. I want to sincerely thank Bernaud Arnault for renewing his confidence in me as part of LVMH, and I extend my warm thanks to Claude Martinez, Stephanie Medioni, Laurent Kleitman and Marc Chaya for their support.”

Kleitman added, “Francois Demachy will remain one of the most prominent talents among all those who have helped celebrate the unique Dior spirit and perpetuate the Dior dream. His scents are treasures that will remain timeless. It has been an extraordinary adventure and a great honor to work with him both in Paris and in Grasse.”

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