Head of luxury bag-maker Louis Vuitton steps down

Associated Press

PARIS (AP) — The head of famed luggage and handbag-maker Louis Vuitton is stepping down because of health reasons.

Luxury goods purveyor LVMH, which owns the brand, announced Tuesday that Jordi Constans would be leaving the company a little over a year after he moved there from yogurt maker Danone. The company said the 48-year-old's unexpected departure was because of a "significant health issue."

Franco-American Michael Burke, who had been running LVMH's jewelry house Bulgari, will take over at Louis Vuitton. While with LVMH, Burke has worked at the Christian Dior fashion house and for Louis Vuitton in North America.

LVMH CEO Bernard Arnault said Constans had shown "remarkable leadership" in his short time at the company.