French fashion house Chloe names new designer

A model presents a creation for Chloe

Chloe has been without an artistic director since the resignation in January of British designer Phoebe Philo to spend more time with her young daughter.

Since then, a design team has been behind its collections.

"We are thrilled to have Paulo join us and look forward to him becoming part of the Chloe design legacy," Ralph Toledano, chairman and chief executive officer of Chloe said in a written statement.

Melim Andersson, 34, was design director of Marni, the Italian fashion company where he worked for seven years.

He graduated with degrees in fashion design from Central Saint Martins and the Royal College of Art in London.

His first Chloe collection will be for autumn 2007 and will be shown in Paris next March, the house said in the statement received Thursday.

As well as Philo, previous Chloe designers have included Karl Lagerfeld and Stella McCartney.