The luxury conglomerate LVMH, owned by billionaire Bernard Arnault, has appointed Frédéric Arnault, 29, as CEO of its Watches segment.
This newly created position is in charge of notable brands such as Hublot, Tag Heuer, and Zenith.
His appointment, which took effect on January 1, aligns with LVMH’s ambition for robust and sustainable growth within the watch maisons, further cementing the conglomerate’s reputation in the watchmaking sector.
According to a statement issued by the luxury conglomerate on Friday, Arnault reports directly to Stéphane Bianchi, CEO of LVMH’s watches and jewellery division.
Arnault, as the head of LVMH Watches, is in charge of the iconic brands Zenith, Hublot, and TAG Heuer.
Notably, he previously led the Swiss watchmaker’s venture into wristwatch technology, ushering in a dynamic upheaval in the traditional horology environment.
Arnault joined TAG Heuer in 2017, where he worked as the director of the Connected brand of smartwatches before rising to the role of CEO in 2020.
Frédéric Arnault sharpened his abilities at McKinsey and delved into the domain of artificial intelligence research at Facebook before making substantial achievements in the family firm.
According to Forbes, Bernard Arnault’s family is worth $187.2 billion, making them the world’s second richest family.
Their fortune stems mostly from millionaire Arnault’s 47% ownership in LVMH, which was founded in the 1980s.
Arnault’s children have taken over the fashion empire in recent years. Delphine Arnault, for example, became chairperson and CEO of Christian Dior Couture in January 2023.
Meanwhile, Antoine Arnault has led the group since 2018, as well as the family holding company, Christian Dior SE, since December 2022.
While he just stepped down as CEO of Berluti, he still serves as chairman of both Berluti and Loro Piana.
The two younger Arnault boys, Alexandre and Jean, are focused on hard luxury. Alexandre is the director of product and communications at Tiffany & Co., while Jean is the director of watches at Louis Vuitton.
Bernard Arnault’s empire was founded in the 1980s, when he purchased a share in the insolvent Christian Dior for $15 million in 1984.
In 1987, the visionary magnate organized a historic agreement that combined Louis Vuitton with the legendary Mot et Chandon and Hennessy, giving birth to a luxury products empire.
Under his leadership, the conglomerate grew rapidly, acquiring over 75 brands such as Givenchy, Sephora, Marc Jacobs, and Bulgari.
In 2017, Arnault strengthened his control by purchasing Christian Dior altogether at an estimated $13.1 billion.
