Dior Couture PR director Mathilde Favier, 57, and French film producer Nicolas Altmayer, 61, died Monday in a road crash in Airvault, western France.
Mathilde Favier, one of the fashion industry’s prominent public relations executives, died alongside her partner Nicolas Altmayer in a crash in Airvault, in France’s Deux-Sèvres region, on Aug. 17.
The Niort prosecutor’s office said the collision happened at about 4 pm on a departmental road.
According to deputy prosecutor Nicolas Leclainche, their vehicle struck a heavy goods vehicle traveling in the opposite direction while the couple was overtaking another vehicle.
The truck driver was not seriously injured, and authorities opened an investigation into involuntary manslaughter by a driver.
Favier joined Dior in 2011 after spending more than a decade at Prada, where she helped establish the Italian brand’s Paris press operation.
At Dior Couture, she became a key link between the fashion house and international celebrities, including Rihanna, Jennifer Lawrence, Natalie Portman, Anya Taylor-Joy and Blackpink’s Jisoo.
Dior paid tribute to Favier, with LVMH chairman and CEO Bernard Arnault praising the passion, energy and talent she devoted to the house.
Dior CEO Delphine Arnault described her as an exceptional woman whose joy, talent and loyalty had made a lasting impression.
Favier also extended her influence beyond fashion. In 2024, she published Mathilde à Paris, a personal guide to Paris written with journalist Frédérique Dedet.
She was also the sister of Dior Joaillerie creative director Victoire de Castellane and founded Esthétique & Cancer, an association supporting people undergoing cancer treatment through beauty and wellness programs.
Altmayer, who was 61, co-ran Mandarin & Compagnie with his brother Éric. His producing credits included Michel Hazanavicius’ OSS 117 films, Brice de Nice and numerous works by François Ozon, including Frantz and Summer of 85.
He also worked on films by Bertrand Bonello and Julia Ducournau. In 2017, Nicolas and Éric Altmayer received the César Academy’s Daniel Toscan du Plantier Award for French producers.
Filmmakers and industry leaders including Ozon, Fabien Onteniente and Canal+ chief Maxime Saada expressed shock and paid tribute to Altmayer’s contribution to French cinema.
The couple leaves behind family members, with Altmayer having four children and Favier two.
