Consumer >> CEO Interviews >> March 11, 2003
JEAN MADAR is the Chief Executive Officer, Chairman of the Board
of Directors, co-Founder and the largest stockholder of Inter
Parfums, Inc. In 1985, with his business plan for alternative
designer fragrances and a few thousand dollars, Mr. Madar
traveled from Paris to New York City and formed the company's
predecessor, Jean Philippe Fragrances. About three years later,
the company completed its initial public offering, which was one
of the first IPOs after the October 1987 stock market crash.
While building the mass market fragrance and cosmetic business in
the United States and acquiring the rights to such brands names
as Jordache, Intimate and Aziza, Mr. Madar, along with fellow
Founder, Philippe Benacin, expanded into the prestige fragrance
business in Paris. Much of the prestige fragrance is conducted
through Paris-Bourse publicly traded Inter Parfums, SA, which is
78% owned by IPAR. Today, the company's prestige brand portfolio
is comprised of Burberry, S.T. Dupont, Paul Smith, Christian
Lacroix, Celine, FUBU and Diane von Furstenberg. In 1999, LVMH
Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy, the world's largest luxury goods
conglomerate, became a strategic partner and 20% equity holder of
IPAR. Born in Paris, Mr. Madar is a past recipient of the Ernst &
Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award, and a graduate of ESSEC in
1983. Profile
Parfums and then a picture of what you are doing at the present
time?
Mr. Madar: Inter Parfums is a provider of prestige fragrances
