Ari Kopelman, the former president and chief operating officer of Chanel Inc. who is credited with helping to drive the French luxury brand’s remarkable growth, has died at age 86, WWD reported on Oct. 8 .

According to a brand representative, the cause of death was pancreatic cancer.

“Kopelman was known as a shrewd, hard-nosed businessman and a savvy marketer with a sense of humor who was beloved for his witty takes on standard marketing jargon,” the publication writes.

Ari Kopelman was born September 23, 1938 in Brookline, Massachusetts and graduated from Johns Hopkins University in 1960.

In 1985, Chanel owners Alain Wertheimer and Gerard Wertheimer hired Kopelman as president and chief operating officer of Chanel Inc. at their New York headquarters.

In 1986, Kopelman was hired to manage Chanel and Frederic Fekkai Beaute in the United States . Over the next 19 years, Kopelman expanded the company’s retail, fragrance, cosmetics, personal care, eyewear, and accessories businesses, turning it into a multibillion-dollar enterprise.

In 2004, he stepped down as president of the brand.

Kopelman is credited with creating strong relationships with retailers and magazine publishers and maintaining Chanel’s lofty position as one of the world’s great brands, protecting its sophisticated appeal and expanding its product range into categories such as jewelry and watches.

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