Complex sentence: In 1997, at the young age of 25, Ghesquière was the surprise choice to head Paris fashion house Balenciaga, promoted to creative director of Balenciaga after his Belgian predecessor Josephus Thimister was fired following a highly unsuccessful show.
Split into simpler sentences: In 1997, at the young age of 25, Ghesquière was the surprise choice to head the Paris fashion house Balenciaga. Promoted to creative director of Balenciaga after his Belgian predecessor Josephus Thimister was fired following a highly unsuccessful show.