Francois Delarge, a 16-year LVMH veteran, has been named CEO of De Beers Group Marketing, the new division that will coordinate the company’s worldwide marketing efforts. (See “DTC Reorganizes Marketing Division,” JCK, September 2007, p. 56.)

Delarge will be responsible for “big ideas” like Trilogy and Journey, developing the company’s Forevermark, and maintaining consumer confidence in diamonds.

Delarge was most recently president of Louis Vuitton’s Asia Pacific division, based in Hong Kong. Prior to that he held various operational and finance positions at Louis Vuitton, DaiNippon Ink and Chemicals, and Walt Disney Co. France.

De Beers and LVMH are partners in the De Beers Diamond Jewellers retail chain.