Today’s announcement is sure to speed the naming of Slimane’s successor, widely expected to be Anthony Vaccarello — and possibly in time for the spring 2017 shows in Paris this fall. WWD first reported on Jan. 13 that Vaccarello was the frontrunner to succeed Slimane, who had failed to reach an agreement on a new employment pact at Saint Laurent. Kering and Saint Laurent would only say that “a new