There are those in life who possess an innate sense of style and grace that defines who they are. Names like Jackie Kennedy, Karl Lagerfeld, Tommy Hilfiger and George Clooney come to mind as people whose personal styles set trends to which others aspire. In the world of fashion and design, Arie Kopelman was truly an icon, and one who literally wore his sense of style on his sleeves.

A former executive at Procter & Gamble who later became a rising star at the advertising agency Doyle Dane Bernbach, Kopelman joined the House of Chanel in 1985 and turned it from a boutique business into a multibillion-dollar powerhouse. Under his leadership, Chanel expanded its core businesses including retail, fragrance, cosmetics and accessories. He oversaw the launch of several iconic fragrances, including Coco Mademoiselle and Chance, and he was instrumental in developing the brand’s global strategy.

Arie and his wife, Coco, were longtime summer residents on Nantucket along with their two children, Jill Kargman, a bestselling author and actress, and actor Will Kopelman, who was formerly married to actress Drew Barrymore and is now the husband of Vogue market editor Alexandra Michler. Arie and Coco spent summers on the island with their six grandchildren and involved themselves deeply in island life. Arie was the president of the board of the Nantucket Historical Association and helped guide the renovation of the Whaling Museum, the most highly visited attraction on Nantucket. Arie’s sense of style was seen throughout his tenure at the NHA, and he continued to serve the organization through its Friends of the NHA organization and heritage society. Arie and Coco were personal collectors of art and artifacts.

Their home presented a very clear expression of their sense of everything visual and portrayed their passion for the intersection of design and history. Beyond Arie’s success as a corporate executive, he was well known for his robust sense of humor and personal charm. When Arie was young, he had considered standup comedy as a career; however, his Harvard-educated lawyer father was able to dissuade him from a career path that was unlikely to yield the same level of success that he achieved in the world of design and fashion. People who knew Arie always remarked about his personal appeal, which likely played no small role in his business success, according to NHA Executive Director Niles Parker.

“[Kopelman’s] leadership over the years was crucial,” Parker said. “His passion and vision were always evident yet always accompanied by his grace and signature sense of humor. He was truly a pleasure to work with and will be dearly missed.”

Arie Kopelman’s legacy in the business world, and in the luxury fashion industry in particular, will be hard to replicate, and his commitment to philanthropy and the support of his passions on Nantucket will leave an indelible mark. At the end of the day, Arie Kopelman’s biggest asset was Arie Kopelman.