Mathilde Favier, Dior PR chief, dies at 57 in car crash

Mathilde Favier, the influential director of public relations for Christian Dior Couture, died on Monday, August 17, 2026, in a car accident in western France that also killed her partner, film producer Nicolas Altmayer. She was 57. Altmayer was 61.

The accident occurred in the Deux-Sèvres region, where the vehicle driven by the couple struck a heavy goods truck while attempting to overtake another car. The deputy prosecutor in Niort confirmed the crash happened around 4 p.m. on a departmental road near Airvault. An investigation for involuntary manslaughter has been opened to determine the full circumstances of the collision.

Dior confirmed Favier's death on Tuesday, August 18, triggering a wave of tributes from the fashion industry. The house described her as an exceptional woman whose communicative joy, talent, and loyalty were exemplary. Favier had served as Dior's public relations director since 2011, a role that made her a central figure in managing the brand's relationships with celebrities, clients, and media. She worked closely with high-profile Dior ambassadors, including Rihanna, Natalie Portman, Jennifer Lawrence, and Anya Taylor-Joy.