Paris Fashion Week: YSL names Hedi Slimane creative director.

YSL staff was first to hear Tuesday that Hedi Slimane will become the fashion house’s new creative director following the recent departure of Stefano Pilati.

Slimane, who is most famous for his Dior Homme menswear collections from 2000 to 2007, will be the fourth designer to take over the reigns since founding designer Yves Saint Laurent retired in 2002 and died in 2008 at age 71.

Hedi Slimane: Best of photos

Israeli-American designer Alber Elbaz was the first to design the collection following the retirement of Saint Laurent. Then American Tom Ford took over only to be replaced by Pilati in 2004.

Pilati presented his final YSL collection Monday during Paris fashion week and received a standing ovation.

YSL chief Paul Deneve announced to employees Tuesday that Slimane will become the fourth creative director of the prestigious fashion house, since Laurent stopped designing.

Employees were told a public announcement would be made Wednesday.

Born in Paris, Slimane became synonymous with his skinny black rocker suits and skinny ties for men during his years at Christian Dior. Slimane is credited with encouraging a portly Karl Lagerfeld to lose weight. According to Lagerfeld he wanted to be svelte enough to fit into one of the designer’s narrow silhouette suits.

Slimane is also an avid photographer who has captured the portraits of such celebrities as Kate Moss, Pete Doherty, Robert De Niro and Lindsay Lohan.