Didier Parakian (born 5 March 1964) is a French businessman and politician. He made his fortune from ready-to-wear clothing. He was elected to Marseille city council in 2008 and became a deputy in the National Assembly in 2023.
Biography
editParakian was born in Marseille. His Armenian grandparents migrated to France in 1920 from the Turkish cities of Bursa and Kütahya.[1]
Parakian set up an eponymous fashion brand with his sister Marjorie. He sold the majority of the shares to the Thomas family in 2015.[2] The following year, an unsuccessful attempt at becoming more upmarket led to the company going into receivership.[3] In March 2017, the company was rescued by Chinese corporation Zhejiang Dunnu.[4]
In 2008, Parakian was elected to the city council. He became a deputy to right-wing mayor Jean-Claude Gaudin.[5]
In July 2020, Parakian was appointed to the council of the Aix-Marseille-Provence Metropolis and named in the executive led by Martine Vassal.[6] He was put in charge of European funds.[7]
Formerly a member of The Republicans (LR), Parakian ran for Emmanuel Macron's Renaissance in the 2022 French legislative election, as the substitute for Sabrina Agresti-Roubache's candidacy in Bouches-du-Rhône's 1st constituency.[8] In July 2023, Agresti-Roubache was nominated for a ministerial post, and Parakian succeeded her as a deputy in the National Assembly.[9]
References
edit- ^ "Didier Parakian: "There is only happiness in our hearts; our dream has come true"". Armenians Today. 2 November 2010. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
- ^ "Didier Parakian: la famiglia Thomas diventa maggiore azionista" [Didider Parakian: the Thomas family become majority shareholders]. Fashion Magazine (in Italian). 2 July 2015. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
- ^ Lerévérend, Anaïs (14 November 2016). "Parakian Paris placé en redressement judiciaire" [Parakian Paris put into receivership]. Fashion Network (in French). Retrieved 10 June 2024.
- ^ "Parakian repris par un industriel chinois" [Parakian rescued by a Chinese industrial company]. Les Echos (in French). 1 March 2017. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
- ^ Provansal, Florent (14 February 2022). "Marseille - Présidentielle 2022 : "J'appelle à voter Macron" (Didier Parakian)" [Marseille - 2022 presidential election: "I call for people to vote Macron"]. La Provence (in French). Retrieved 10 June 2024.
- ^ "Martine Vassal remporte la présidence de la Métropole Aix-Marseille-Provence" [Martine Vassal wins the presidency of the Aix-Marseille-Provence Metropolis]. La Marseillaise (in French). 9 July 2020. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
- ^ Van Lède, Genevieve (2 October 2022). "La Métropole Aix-Marseille-Provence se rêve en capitale européenne de l'innovation" [Aix-Marseille-Provence Metropolis dreams of being European Capital of Innovation]. La Provence (in French). Retrieved 10 June 2024.
- ^ "Législatives à Marseille - 1ère circonscription : vers un remake de la présidentielle ?" [Legislative elections in Marseille - 1st constituency: towards a remake of the presidential election?]. La Provence (in French). 3 May 2022. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
- ^ Bordier, Antoine (9 September 2023). "Didier Parakian, le député marseillais qui chuchote à l'oreille du Président Macron" [Didier Parakian, the deputy from Marseille who whispers in the ear of President Macron]. Entreprendre (in French). Retrieved 10 June 2024.