© 2009 AFP - The 31-year-old grandson of Yves Rocher will take the helm of the global cosmetics empire following the death of the firm's founder, the company said Sunday 27 December.

Bris Rocher, grandson and successor of Yves Rocher - Photo : Marcel Mochet/AFP

Yves Rocher died in Paris on Saturday 26 December after suffering a stroke. He was 79.

Currently serving as vice president of the group, Bris Rocher was appointed president of the company, a decision that had been "anticipated and addressed more than four years ago," said the statement.

Rocher founded his eponymous company in 1959, marketing it as "beauty from plants" and selling by mail order before turning it into a worldwide cosmetics empire.

The group employs 15,000 people in 20 countries, with annual earnings of more than two billion euros (2.8 billion dollars).PARIS, Dec 27, 2009 (AFP)