LVMH 2019 . C h a i r m a n s m e s s a g e
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stand the test of time, across centuries. Today, it is important to reaffirm this lasting commit- ment for all to hear, to ensure that our customers and new employees have no doubt about the long history and sincerity of these fundamental beliefs. Faced with the new issues and aspirations emerging in our society, our Group wants to exemplify trust and confidence: because we promote excellence, a company like ours embraces everyone who is driven by the desire to build a better world and a brighter future.
THE DESIRE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE
This commitment takes many forms, reflecting the richness and diversity of our Group. Since our launch of a pioneering environmental policy starting in 1992, we have constantly strived and innovated to limit the impacts of our activities, preserving the natural ecosystems and even the landscapes that are so essential to the life of our Maisons. From the overhaul of Louis Vuitton s global logistics operations to the groundbreaking packaging designed for Veuve Clicquot and Ruinart, we have delivered clear improvements in environmental perfor- mance across all our business lines. Ahead of our ambitious roadmap set out under the LIFE program, we made new commitments last fall, in particular to promote biodiversity and ani- mal welfare. And because expertise plays a crucial role in this necessary transition to a greener, more energy-efficient economy, we have continued to expand our environmental knowledge base, all the way to our Board of Directors, with a firm desire to achieve continuous improve- ment at every level of our Group. Although sometimes less visible from the outside, our commitment to inclusion and giving back to the community is just as strong. Because we cannot craft inspiring products and experiences without an unwavering focus on the working conditions and opportunities avail- able to our staff; without strict adherence to ethical practices and traceability in our dealings with our partners; without opening our eyes to the world s problems. This outlook has guided a number of initiatives to support important causes, in particular the substantial resources devoted to saving Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral, combating deforestation in the Amazon, and more recently, fighting the spread of the coronavirus, supporting the Red Cross Society of China and the Hospitals of Paris-Hospitals of France Foundation.
BUILDING THE FUTURE WITH YOUNGER GENERATIONS
All of these commitments and achievements converge around a final key concept: passing on the craft. At LVMH, we constantly endeavor to cultivate the expertise upon which our Maisons have built their legacies. We honor this commitment by hiring and training thousands of new employees each year. But also by expanding access to our expertise and company culture through our Institut des Métiers d Excellence, as well as programs like DARE and La Maison des Startups to stimulate innovation. The past lives within us and inspires us, but what moti- vates us is the future: the younger generations to whom we have a duty to pass on the torch of excellence. They already have ambition: our role is to equip them with the tools and skills they need to attain it. For in the end, this is what LVMH stands for and what ultimately gives meaning to everything we do. We are a family group focused on the future, united by a pos- itive, sustainable long-term vision for our company s role in society; a young, virtuous, enthu- siastic group imbued with a powerful ideal of perfection, quality and beauty, driven by our commitments and our calling to inspire dreams.
Bernard Arnault Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
