LVMH recently announced the reorganisation of the management structure at its Watchmaking Division. Bernard Arnault, Chairman and CEO of LVMH, said: “The reorganisation will allow us to continue to grow our watchmaking division, with two objectives: delivering products of the highest technical quality, and continuing to grow our brands around the world.“
Jean-Claude Biver, who has an extraordinary career in watchmaking that spans over 40 years, will assume the role of non-executive Chairman of the Watchmaking Division, and therefore, will relinquish his operational responsibilities.
“I would like to applaud Jean-Claude Biver for the decisive leadership that he has shown in his role at the head of the watchmaking division. Since the integration of Hublot within LVMH, he has elevated our watchmaking division to a world-class technical level of the highest order and has significantly accelerated its commercial growth.” – Bernard Arnault, Chairman and CEO of LVMH
“I am delighted that the Group will continue to benefit from Jean-Claude’s advice, and I am sure that his entrepreneurial spirit will bring many innovative new ideas to the world of watchmaking,” Arnault added.
Jean-Claude Biver added: “After 45 years in the watch industry, I would like to focus more specifically on advising and sharing my experience. I am grateful to the LVMH Group for according me this honour. Stéphane and Frédéric have my full support for the future. Thank you to all those who have shared my passion and many successes, without whom I could never have achieved so much.”
Stéphane Bianchi has been appointed as the CEO of the Watchmaking Division, with effect from November 1, 2018. He will directly lead TAG Heuer, with the CEOs of Hublot and Zenith reporting to him. Stéphane Bianchi, 53, has spent most of his career with the Yves Rocher Group. He was the CEO from 1998 to 2015, delivering strong growth and diversification of the Group. Also, Frédéric Arnault has been appointed as the Strategy and Digital Director of TAG Heuer.
Stéphane Bianchi commented: “The world of watches and the art of watchmaking have always been fascinating to me and I am greatly looking forward to joining Frédéric Arnault and the TAG Heuer teams to continue their fantastic work, led in recent years by Jean-Claude Biver, such an iconic global figure in the industry.“
