Yves Carcelle, the former chairman and CEO of Louis Vuitton,  passed away on Sunday at the age of 66. 

The ex-LVMH executive was celebrated as the powerhouse behind Vuitton, where he worked for two decades before stepping down in 2012. He is credited with breathing new life into the 160-year-old fashion house and transforming it into a global luxury brand.

Most notably, he recruited Marc Jacobs as creative director in 1997 and spearheaded iconic Vuitton collaborations with artists such as Takashi Murakami and Stephen Sprouse. Carcelle was also among the first to spot the potential for growth in China, expanding Vuitton's influence in Asia and around the world. 

Carcelle was diagnosed with a rare type of kidney cancer in 2013. LVMH confirmed his passing on its website. In a statement, chairman and CEO Bernard Arnault described Carcelle as "one of the most inspirational men that I have ever met".

Fashion critic and Vogue international editor Suzy Menkes paid tribue to Carcelle on her Instagram page, hailing him as "the troubadour of Louis Vuitton".  

"You gave to Louis Vuitton a dynamism that has made the brand a fashion leader and spread across the world the concept of accessories as high fashion – and fashion clothing from accessories companies," she wrote.

"You were a pioneer in China, a genius at marketing, an enthusiast for sailing – and the entire fashion world pays homage to a retail genius and a dear man who struggled so hard to fight against his illness and who has died much too soon."

Carcelle is survived by his wife, Rebecca, and his five children.