LVMH is going through a tough transition phase. Not only is the French luxury giant facing the worst downturn in decades, it’s parted ways with roughly half of its executive committee since the beginning of the year. This week, another head rolled: that of Chantal Gaemperle, LVMH’s powerful head of human resources and synergies and one of the closest lieutenants of controlling shareholder and CEO Bernard Arnault. Gaemperle was abruptly dismissed, along with Alessia Gargano, HR chief of the group’s beauty division. What’s going on? Arnault, who has a reputation for staying cool and calculating, has been making mistake after mistake. “Arnault has been making some really strange decisions recently,” one former close associate said, citing as an example the recent flurry of management changes at the group.