La Maison Française of NYU will honor Michael Burke, CEO of Louis Vuitton, and Virginie Morgon, CEO of Eurazeo, at its annual Gala Benefit
La Maison Française of NYU announced it will honor Michael Burke, CEO of Louis Vuitton, and Virginie Morgon, CEO of Eurazeo, at its annual Gala Benefit. The event will be held Thursday, May 9 at the NYU Kimmel Center for University Life and will raise funds for La Maison Française’s program of lectures, readings, conferences, art exhibits, concerts, and special events.
La Maison Française, the public face of the NYU Center for French Language and Cultures, is one of the most active centers of French-American cultural and intellectual exchange, and has for over 60 years welcomed thousands of literary, artistic, scholarly, and political luminaries for events which are free and open to the public.
The 2019 Gala honorees will receive the Medal of Honor of the Center for French Language and Cultures which distinguishes those who have contributed significantly to strengthening the bonds between France and the United States.
The Benefit patrons include Ambassador François Delattre, Permanent Representative of France to the United Nations; Anne-Claire Legendre, Consul General of France in New York; Bénédicte de Montlaur, Cultural Counselor of the French Embassy; and Andrew Hamilton, the President of New York University. Entertainment will be provided by Avalon Jazz Band.
About the Honorees
Michael Burke, born in France in 1957, graduated from EDHEC in 1980. He joined the Arnault Group, taking charge of its real estate operations in the USA before joining the LVMH Group in 1986 where he held various positions of increasing responsibilities. CEO of Christian Dior USA from 1986 to 1993, he then took charge of Louis Vuitton North America. In 1997, Michael Burke moved to Paris to become Deputy CEO of Christian Dior Couture (Worldwide). Following the acquisition of Fendi by LVMH in 2003, Michael was appointed CEO, transforming the brand into the success that it is today. CEO of Bulgari starting in February 2012, he was appointed Chairman and CEO of Louis Vuitton in December of the same year. He is also a member of the LVMH Executive Committee. In 2016, Michael Burke was elected a member of the Management Board of the Fédération Française de la Couture.
Virginie Morgon became CEO of Eurazeo in March 2018. Since joining Eurazeo’s Executive Board in 2008, Ms. Morgon has accelerated the firm’s diversification and growth, transforming Eurazeo into a multi-strategy international investment firm able to support companies across all market segments, from start-ups to global large caps, with a range that comprises SMEs, real estate and brands. From 1991 to 2007, Ms. Morgon spent 16 years as an investment banker at Lazard (New York, London, and Paris) and became the youngest managing partner in 2001. Ms. Morgon features regularly on The International Power 50: Fortune’s Most Powerful Women list. She also co-chairs the Human Rights Watch Support Committee, serves on its Paris Committee, and is a founding member of the Women’s Forum for Economy & Society. She serves on the Board of Directors of Moncler, and is an independent Board member of L’Oreal. Previously, she served on the Boards of AccorHotels and Vivendi.
La Maison Française of New York University
Gala Benefit honoring Michael Burke and Virginie Morgon
Thursday, May 9 at NYU's Kimmel Center, 60 Washington Square South
6:30 p.m. Champagne Reception
7:30 p.m. Dinner, Presentations, Entertainment
Tickets are $750. ($600. tax deductible) or $1,000. ($850. tax deductible). Seating is limited. For more information, please visit the website.
Contact: Francine Goldenhar, Director, La Maison Française, NYU, 212-998-8751 or francine.goldenhar@nyu.edu. Journalists wishing to attend should contact Sarah Binney, sarah.binney@nyu.edu, 212.998.6829.
Editor’s Note
For over six decades, La Maison Française of New York University has served as a major forum for French-American cultural and intellectual exchange, offering contemporary perspectives on myriad French and Francophone issues. Its rich program of lectures, symposia, concerts, screenings, exhibitions, and special events provides an invaluable resource to the university community, as well as the general public. For more, please visit nyu.edu/maisonfrancaise.