PARIS, May 3 — Lacoste has parted company with its long-time designer Felipe Oliveira Baptista, the French sportswear brand said yesterday.

The Portuguese creator doubled the brand’s turnover in his eight years in charge to more than €2 billion (RM9.43 billion) a year.

But the crocodile brand’s new boss Thierry Guibert reportedly wants to give the label a renewed sports focus, with heavy promotion around tennis star Novak Djokovic.

"A new stage will now open and I am extremely confident in the future successes of our brand, emblematic of French know-how and elegance,” Guibert said in a statement.

Oliveira Baptista, 43, is credited with helping to revive the historic brand with his predecessor Christophe Lemaire, who tripled sales during his decade in charge. — AFP