French honour for business leader Helen Lambert

Helen Lambert, chief executive and owner of Lambert Associates, a luxury retail consultancy based in Paris, was awarded the Chevalier de l’Ordre National du Mérite from the French government at a reception in the Irish Embassy in Paris. The presentation to the Co Tipperary woman hosted by Ambassador Paul Kavanagh, was made by Yves Carcelle, former president of Louis Vuitton, before 200 guests.

Mr Carcelle referred to the fact that Ms Lambert’s company, which now employs 200 people, has a client list of more than 500 fashion buyers who come to Paris twice a year from all over the world and who last year generated more than €118 million worth of export business for France, an increase of 16 per cent on 2011.

“It’s a huge honour,” Ms Lambert told The Irish Times,” particularly because I am not French and very few women, usually much older, get this award.”