Chanel deputy director Viard to succeed Lagerfeld: Chanel source

PARIS (Reuters) – Virginie Viard, deputy artistic director of Chanel, will become chief designer of the fashion house following the death of haute couture icon Karl Lagerfeld, a source at Chanel said on Tuesday.

Lagerfeld, 85, died earlier on Tuesday after a short illness and after more than 50 years at the pinnacle of Paris and the global fashion industry.