Frédéric Arnault Named CEO of LVMH Watches

LVMH is strengthening its timepiece sector with the appointment of Frédéric Arnault as CEO of LVMH Watches. The newly established position sees the second-youngest son of LVMH chairman and CEO Bernard Arnault take over business operations for Hublot, Tag Heuer and Zenith watchmakers (which boast a combined annual revenue of $1.9 billion USD).

The appointment was revealed as part of the French luxury conglomerate’s latest executive changes in its watches department, which have been in effect since January 1. While Arnault moves into his new leadership role, his former position as CEO of Tag Heuer now belongs to Julien Tornare, who previously acted as the CEO of Zenith. Benoit de Clerck, who spent 25 years working for Compagnie Financière Richemont, takes over Zenith.

Under the new executive structure, Arnault will report to the LVMH Watches and Jewelry Division CEO Stéphane Bianchi, who credits Arnault’s “unique and disruptive vision” for Tag Heuer’s “spectacular transformation” under his leadership.

“I am extremely pleased to have Frédéric [Arnault] join me now within the LVMH watches and jewelry division to oversee our three watches maisons, and eager to see what his unique insights and vision will bring to fuel additional and sustainable growth for them,” Bianchi said in a statement via WWD.