LVMH Watch Chief Takes On Jewelry Portfolio

RAPAPORT... LVMH has promoted St?(C)phane Bianchi to CEO of its watches and jewelry division, starting July 1. Since 2018, he has been CEO of watchmaking and of the French luxury group's TAG Heuer timepiece brand.Bianchi will oversee high-end jewelers Chaumet and Fred, with those brands' managing directors reporting to him, and will retain overall responsibility for the TAG Heuer, Hublot and Zenith watch labels. Jean-Christophe Babin, CEO of LVMH's flagship jewelry brand, Bulgari, will continue to report directly to group managing director Toni Belloni."Since his arrival at LVMH, St?(C)phane has given the watchmaking division a new lease of life, strengthening the fundamental principles of each of the brands and exploring promising new avenues," said Bernard Arnault, chairman and CEO of LVMH. "I am certain that he will continue this great work and that he will apply all of his talents and his determination to the development of the...Chaumet and Fred [maisons]."Meanwhile, Arnault's 25-year-old son, Fr?(C)d?(C)ric Arnault, will take over from Bianchi as CEO of TAG Heuer.Image: St?(C)phane Bianchi. (Gabriel de la Chapelle/LVMH)