Dior’s CEO Is Surprised The Brand Made Money Without Galliano

by Jada Wong | 2:32 pm, May 31st, 2012

Despite the 13-month gap between Dior firing John Galliano and hiring Raf Simons, the French house reported that revenue in 2011 was over $1 billion.

Anyway, Dior’s numbers are a shocker to us and president Sidney Toledano. He explains to the Financial Times:

“I never considered that. I always thought we absolutely needed an artistic director. They, and their charisma, are what creates breakthroughs. But you make choices about how you use that.”

Well, if revenue increased without Dior hiring a new artistic director, does the house even need one? Yup.

“I could stand in front of the team and give them our objectives, guidelines, talk to them about the market and prices, and they would do it, but the end result would be flat.”

And the pressure’s on, Raf.

[FT]

Dior John Galliano Raf Simons Sidney Toledano