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LVMH Appoints Stéphane Bianchi Head of Watches
He replaces Jean-Claude Biver, who stepped down to become non-executive chairman of the watchmaking division.
Paris—LVMH has named Jean-Claude Biver’s replacement.
On Nov. 1, Stéphane Bianchi will become chairman and CEO of LVMH’s Horlogerie Division.
News broke last month that, amid health concerns, Biver was stepping back from his role as head of the watch division, and CEO of TAG Heuer, to become the division’s non-executive chairman. He took on his chairman and CEO roles in 2014 after joining LVMH in 2008.
Biver has worked in the industry for more than 40 years.
Bianchi, on the other hand, is new to watches.
He joins LVMH from the Yves Rocher Group, where he was CEO from 1998 to 2015. There, he managed the Yves Rocher cosmetics brand, as well as Petit Bateau. His most recent role was on the board of family business Maus Group, owner of companies such as Lacoste and Gant.
Next month, he will fill Biver’s shoes to become CEO of TAG Heuer and oversee Hublot and Zenith.
In a press release, LVMH CEO Bernard Arnault said: “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. 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.”
Biver added, “After 45 years in the watch industry and at the dawn of my 70th year, I would like to focus more specifically on advising and sharing my experience. I am grateful to the LVMH Group for according me this honor. Stéphane and Frédéric have my full support for the future. Thank you to all those who accompanied me in my passion and my many successes which, without them, could never have been realized.”
LVMH also announced that Arnault’s son Frédéric has been appointed strategy and digital director of TAG Heuer.
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