Pierre Wertheimer

Pierre Wertheimer (29 January 1888 – 24 April 1965) was a French businessman.

Not to be confused with the World War I flying ace Pierre Wertheim, who was also known as Pierre Armand Wertheim or Pierre Wertheimer.

Family business

Wertheimer was born to a Jewish family,[1] the son of Ernest who had emigrated from Alsace to Paris in 1870. In Paris the elder Wertheimer purchased an interest in the theatrical make-up company Bourjois. Bourjois, an innovator in these products for the stage, developed the first dry rouge, an improvement over the grease laden face paint customarily used. By 1920, Bourjois had become the largest and most successful cosmetic and fragrance company in France. Not restricted to the European continent, Bourjois was an international enterprise with corporate holdings in America. Their facility in Rochester, New York manufactured and distributed the Helena Rubinstein line of face creams.[2] Maintaining Bourjois as a family business, Pierre Wertheimer and his brother Paul took over the directorship of the company in 1917.[3]

"Parfums Chanel"

In 1924, Coco Chanel made an agreement with the Wertheimers creating a corporate entity, "Parfums Chanel."

Chanel believed that the time was opportune to extend the sale of her fragrance Chanel No. 5 to a wider customer base. Since its introduction it had been available only as an exclusive offering to an elite clientele in her boutique. Cognizant of the Wertheimer’s proven expertise in commerce, their familiarity with the American marketplace, and resources of capital, Chanel felt a business alliance with them would be fortuitous. Théophile Bader, founder of the Paris department store, Galeries Lafayette, had been instrumental in brokering the business connection by introducing Pierre Wertheimer to Chanel at the Longchamps races in 1922.[4] Bader was interested in inaugurating the sale of Chanel No. 5 in the Galeries Lafayette, distinguishing his store as the first venue to offer the fragrance to the general public.

For a seventy percent share of the company, the Wertheimers agreed to provide full financing for production, marketing and distribution of Chanel No. 5. Théophile Bader was given a twenty percent share. For ten percent of the stock, Chanel licensed her name to "Parfums Chanel" and removed herself from involvement in all business operations.[5] Ultimately displeased with the arrangement, Chanel worked for more than twenty years to gain full control of "Parfums Chanel." In 1935, Chanel instigated a lawsuit against the Wertheimers, which proved unsuccessful.[6]

World War II brought with it the Nazi seizure of all Jewish owned property and business enterprises, providing Chanel with the opportunity to gain the full monetary fortune generated by "Parfums Chanel" and its most profitable product, Chanel No. 5. The Wertheimers were Jewish, and in May 1941, Chanel used her position as an "Aryan" to petition German officials to legalize her right to sole ownership. Chanel was unaware that the Wertheimers, anticipating the forthcoming Nazi mandates against Jews, had taken steps to protect their interests. Prior to fleeing France for New York in 1940, they had legally turned control of “Parfums Chanel” over to a Christian, French business man and industrialist Félix Amiot. At war's end, Amiot turned "Parfums Chanel" back over to the Wertheimers.[7][8]

Marriage

In October 1910, Pierre Wertheimer married Germaine Revel, a daughter of a stockbroker and a member of the Lazard family of investment bankers.

Thoroughbred horse racing

Pierre Wertheimer was also a leading racehorse owner. In 1949 he hired the then 24-year-old Alec Head to train his horses. The Werheimer/Head association in racing still continues through family members (Fredy Head is trainer of Goldikova, a 3 times breeder cup winner mile turf, and remains in training for 2011 for an appetent 4th consecutive win in this classic race). Wertheimer's horses won numerous important races in France and the United Kingdom. Among the notable horses he owned was Épinard, called a racing legend by the French racing authority, France Galop.

Selected Group One race wins:

After his death, his widow remained as an owner of prominent horses such as Riverman and Lyphard. Germaine Wertheimer's Group One race wins include:

The racing stable and the House of Chanel was inherited by his son Jacques Wertheimer who continued to be a force in French racing and who expanded the House of Chanel even further. On Jacques' death, the business went to his sons, Gérard and Alain Wertheimer.

References
  1. World's Richest Jews Jerusalem Post
  2. "Chanel SA History," retrieved August 3, 2012
  3. Mazzeo, Tilar J., The Secret of Chanel No.5, HarperCollins, 2010, p. 95
  4. Thomas, Dana, "The Power Behind The Cologne", The New York Times, February 24, 2002, retrieved July 18, 2012
  5. Mazzeo, Tilar J., The Secret of Chanel No. 5, HarperCollins, 2010, p. 95
  6. http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/chanel-sa-history/ "Chanel SA History", retrieved August 2, 2012
  7. Mazzeo, Tilar J., The Secret of Chanel No.5, HarperCollins, 2010, p. 150
  8. Thomas, Dana, "The Power Behind The Cologne", The New York Times, February 24, 2012, retrieved July 18, 2012

Sources
  • Women's History from about.com
  • Forbes.com: Forbes World's Richest People 2004
  • Mazzeo, Tilar J., "The Secret of Chanel No. 5.", HarperCollins, 2010, ISBN 978-0-06-179101-7
  • Thomas, Dana, "The Power Behind The Cologne, The New York Times, February 24, 2002
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