Paris, France: Jean-Louis Dumas, who chaired the French luxury goods group Hermes for almost three decades until 2006, has died at the age of 72, his spokesman said on Sunday May 2.

Dumas took over in 1978 as head of the illustrious fashion and luxury house, which was founded by his family five generations earlier, in 1837.

He died on Saturday May 1 in Paris.

Under his leadership, Hermes became a global brand, turning over 1.9 billion euros ($3.4 billion) in 2009, with wide-ranging interests including stakes in the prestigious German camera maker Leica or Jean-Paul Gaultier's fashion house.

Suffering from ill-health, Dumas stood down as Hermes manager and artistic director in January 2006.