Harrop to Spearhead Louis Vuitton’s Image and Communications, Bringing Years of Expertise to the Role
Louis Vuitton has announced Blake Harrop, the former president of Wieden + Kennedy Amsterdam, as its new Executive Vice President of Image and Communications. Harrop is set to begin his new role at Louis Vuitton in Paris on May 2, joining the management committee and reporting directly to Pietro Beccari, the brand’s Chairman and CEO. This move comes as Stefano Cantino departs from Louis Vuitton to join Gucci as Deputy CEO.
Harrop steps into a significant position at Louis Vuitton, a brand known for its lavish fashion shows, extensive exhibitions, innovative retail concepts, and substantial media presence. With advertising and promotional expenditures reaching 1.63 billion euros last year, as estimated by RBC Capital Markets, Harrop’s role is pivotal to maintaining and enhancing the brand’s global image and appeal.
Born in Britain and having lived across the globe, Harrop brings a wealth of experience from his tenure at Wieden + Kennedy, where he collaborated with major consumer brands such as Samsung, Nike, Allianz, Hennessy, Evian, Visa, Google, and Montblanc. His expertise spans over 20 years, with significant achievements including leading Wieden + Kennedy’s offices in Shanghai, Tokyo, and Amsterdam, and serving as the global head of digital marketing at Samsung in South Korea.
Beccari praised Harrop’s extensive communications and marketing expertise in an internal memo, highlighting his achievements and contributions to the advertising agency Wieden + Kennedy. Harrop’s prior role involved rolling out Samsung’s initial social media campaigns and working closely with leaders in the luxury sector.
Under Harrop’s leadership, Wieden + Kennedy attained B Corp certification, underscoring the agency’s commitment to meeting high standards of social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability. He has also been lauded for his ability to collaborate effectively with creative teams, notably managing Nike’s marketing efforts across various regions.
Harrop’s educational background includes an MBA from the prestigious INSEAD and executive education from Harvard Business School. His appointment is expected to bring fresh perspectives to Louis Vuitton’s campaigns and initiatives, reinforcing the brand’s position as a leading cultural and luxury icon globally.