Emile Hermès

Third-generation Hermès leader who navigated the transition from equestrian goods to leather accessories and luggage as the automobile ended the horse era, and expanded into the United States in the 1920s.

Recognized that the automobile would eliminate demand for equestrian equipment and pivoted Hermès into luggage, handbags, and accessories — preserving the brand's leather craftsmanship while abandoning the dying product category — the strategic reinvention that saved the company.