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Chanel Names New General Manager of Watches, Fine Jewelry for US
Olivier Kessler-Gay will take over the role on March 3.
Olivier Kessler-Gay, Chanel’s new general manager of watches and fine jewelry for the United States, previously held roles at Pandora and Cartier.
New York—Chanel, Inc. has appointed Olivier Kessler-Gay as its general manager of watches and fine jewelry for the United States.
He will take over the role on March 3.
Kessler-Gay will lead the long-term strategic vision for the division as the company aspires to scale its watches and fine jewelry business in the U.S. He will report to Stéphane Blanchard, president of the U.S. region and Chanel Inc.
Chanel said Kessler-Gay is a leader who has “consistently fostered strong engagement with his teams and created a collaborative culture, inspiring and empowering individuals to reach their full potential.”
He brings to the role more than 25 years of experience in watches and fine jewelry and apparel retail.
Most recently, he served as Pandora’s general manager for Western Europe, which includes Spain, Portugal, and France. In the position, he doubled the size of the business, reshaped company culture, and elevated brand awareness, Chanel said.
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He will take over the role on March 3.
Kessler-Gay will lead the long-term strategic vision for the division as the company aspires to scale its watches and fine jewelry business in the U.S. He will report to Stéphane Blanchard, president of the U.S. region and Chanel Inc.
Chanel said Kessler-Gay is a leader who has “consistently fostered strong engagement with his teams and created a collaborative culture, inspiring and empowering individuals to reach their full potential.”
He brings to the role more than 25 years of experience in watches and fine jewelry and apparel retail.
Most recently, he served as Pandora’s general manager for Western Europe, which includes Spain, Portugal, and France. In the position, he doubled the size of the business, reshaped company culture, and elevated brand awareness, Chanel said.
Prior to working at Pandora, he spent four years at American Apparel and footwear company VF Corporation, which is known for its popular outdoor and lifestyle brands such as North Face and Timberland.
There, as vice president and general manager of Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, he built and scaled the corporation’s global brands through innovative vision and strategic regional positioning, Chanel said.
Kessler-Gay began his career at Cartier, where he held various roles across sales, marketing, and merchandising over nearly 20 years.
He spearheaded the jeweler’s market expansions across the Middle East, Africa, Russia, and Eastern Europe, and he later became managing director for Spain and Portugal, which Chanel said became Cartier's top-performing European region.
"I am confident that Olivier's extensive experience equips him to navigate our complex landscape and drive the U.S. watches and fine jewelry division forward, in partnership with the U.S. leadership team," said Blanchard.
Gay-Kessler added, "I'm very honored and grateful to be joining such an iconic and legendary brand, with a strong ambition, in one of the world's leading markets."
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