Former Louis Vuitton CEO Yves Carcelle has died aged 66.

The fashion director passed away after being diagnosed with a rare type of kidney cancer in 2013, according to WWD.

Yves was the CEO at Louis Vuitton up until 2012, after spending 23 years with the brand. He was highly regarded in the fashion industry and was generally praised for incorporating eyewear and fine jewellery categories in to the French fashion house.

He was also responsible for hiring the acclaimed designer, Marc Jacobs as creative director in 1997.

Yesterday (01.09.14) Bernard Arnault, the chairman and chief executive of LVMH, the company which owns Louis Vuitton made a statement following his death.

He shared: ''It is with great sadness and emotion that I learned of the death of tireless traveller Yves Carcelle.

''Yves was the image of the house that he has long embodied: a pioneer, always curious, passionate, moving; he was one of the most inspirational men that I have ever met. LVMH today lost one of its dearest friends.''

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