LEADERS

The Latest Appointments, Bulgari, Labelux & Net-a-Porter

by

Sophie Doran

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This is the featured image caption
Credit: This is the featured image credit

The Latest Appointments at Fendi, Ralph Lauren, Tiffany & Co, Orient Express, Façonnable, PPR, Veuve Clicquot and Hublot

Over the last decade, collaborations between luxury brands and contemporary artists have gone beyond mere artistic partnerships towards a new kind of luxury branding.

PARIS – Art and fashion have always developed side by side, for fashion, like art, often gives visual expression to the cultural zeitgeist. During the 1920s, Salvador Dalí created dresses for Coco Chanel and Elsa Schiapparelli. In the 1930s, Ferragamo’s shoes commissioned designs for advertisements from Futurist painter Lucio Venna, while Gianni Versace commissioned works from artists such as Alighiero Boetti and Roy Lichtenstein for the launch of his collections. Yves Saint Laurent’s vast art collection, recently auctioned at Christie’s in Paris, testified to his great love of art and revealed the influence of a variety of artists on his own designs.

In the 1980s, relationships between luxury brands and artists were advanced when Alain Dominique Perrin created the Fondation Cartier. In the Fondation Cartier pour l’Art Contemporain, a book marking the foundation’s 20th anniversary, Perrin says he makes “a connection between all the different sorts of arts, and luxury goods are a kind of art. Luxury goods are handicrafts of art, applied art.”

The Fondation Cartier pour l’Art Contemparain building in Paris

The Latest Appointments at Fendi, Ralph Lauren, Tiffany & Co, Orient Express, Façonnable, PPR, Veuve Clicquot and Hublot

The Latest Appointments at Fendi, Ralph Lauren, Tiffany & Co, Orient Express, Façonnable, PPR, Veuve Clicquot and Hublot.

Could this potentially be our biggest listing of appointments yet? It’s not everyday you see leadership changes at no less than five LVMH controlled brands all in the space of two months. Let alone global presidential roles announced at Ralph Lauren, and strategic leadership appointments at Labelux, PPR and, Richemont controlled Net-a-Porter. For good measure, Mulberry, Marcolin and Maurice Lacroix will also ring in 2012 will new leaders at the helm.

And this is without consideration of some very notable exits. Hublot have announced that Jean-Claude Biver – described aptly by WWD as one of the most charismatic figures in the Swiss watch industry – is to step back from operations at Hublot to focus on product development and marketing initiatives for the brand.

Across the proverbial lake in Switzerland, Labelux’s Bally has very quietly parted ways with CEO Berndt Hauptkorn. As no official statement has yet been made, details of the split remain unknown, as do Mr. Hauptkorn’s next move. Following Jimmy Choo’s Tamara Mellon and Joshua Schulman out of the Labelux stable.

Finally, head of PPR’s e-commerce unit, Fabien Sfez, has confirmed his resignation, as he moves into the managing director role at Internet retailer Pixmania. WWD believes a replacement for Mr. Sfez, who sat on PPR’s executive committee, will be made shortly.

Michael Burke, CEO, Bulgari

LVMH has appointed Michael Burke as CEO of Bulgari, effective February, 2012. Most recently Mr. Burke was chairman and CEO of Fendi, leading the brand since 2003. He has worked for LVMH since joining Christian Dior in 1986 to head up the US operations.

Source: Bloomberg

Wolfgang Egger, Head of Brand Design, Audi

Serving as head of Audi group design since April 2007, Wolfgang Egger has now also been appointed head of brand design for the German automaker. Mr. Egger replaces current design boss Stefan Sielaff, who is to become Head of the Volkswagen Design Center in Potsdam, Germany, and Head of Interior Design for the entire Volkswagen Group.

Source: Motor Authority

Stephane Baschiera, CEO, Moët & Chandon

LVMH has announced the appointment of Stephane Baschiera as Chief Executive Officer of Moët & Chandon, effective March 2012. Mr. Baschiera joined Moët Hennessy, the wines and spirits division of LVMH, in 1996 and held the CEO position of Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin from 2009.

Source: The Moodie Report

Daniel Lalonde, President, Ralph Lauren International

Another LVMH Alumni, Daniel Lalonde, has joined Ralph Lauren Corp. as the president of Ralph Lauren International. Mr. Lalonde most recently served as CEO of Moët & Chandon, after leadership roles at Louis Vuitton North America and Tag Heuer.

Source: WWD

Alison Loehnis, Managing Director, Net-a-Porter

Online fashion and luxury retailer has promoted Alison Loehnis to the post of managing director of Net-a-porter.com. Ms. Loehnis has been with the company since 2007, serving most recently as vice president of sales and marketing.

Source: Fashion’s United

Jean-Marc Duplaix, CFO, PPR

PPR has appointed a new chief financial officer, Jean-Marc Duplaix, previously deputy CFO at France’s second-largest private broadcaster, M6. The move comes as PPR widens the role of Group Managing Director, Jean-Francois Palus, to focus on the company’s expansion strategy.

Source: Reuters

Jean-Marc Lacave, CEO, Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin

Succeeding Stephane Baschiera, who will now serve as CEO of Moet & Chandon, Jean-Marc Lacave has been appointed CEO of Maison Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin. Mr. Lacave joined the Watches & Jewellery division of the LVMH Group in the UK in 2001. Since 2007 he has been Chief Executive Officer of Watches & Jewellery in Asia.

Source: The Moodie Report

Bruno Guillon, CEO, Mulberry

Former managing director of Hermès France, Bruno Guillon, has been announced by Mulberry as chief executive to replace Godfrey Davis, who will move into a non-executive chairman role. Guillon joined Hermes in 2001, after working at LVMH and Nina Ricci.

Source: Reuters

Pietro Beccari, CEO, Fendi

Pietro Beccari has been tapped to replace Michael Burke as CEO of Fendi, as Mr. Burke takes up the same position at Bulgari. Mr. Beccari joined LVMH in 2006 as Executive Vice-President Marketing and Communications for Louis Vuitton. His successor at Vuitton is yet to be announced.

Source: Business Wire

Julian Neale, Artistic Director, Façonnable

Owned by Lebanon-based M1 Group, Façonnable has named Julian Neale as its new artistic director. The brand has been designed as team since January 2010, following the departure of former creative director Eric Wright.

Source: WWD

Ricardo Guadalupe, CEO, Hublot

Following Jean-Claude Biver’s step back from day-to-day operations at Hublot, his right-hand man Ricardo Guadalupe has been promoted from managing director to CEO effective Jan. 1. The transaction is said to have taken place more than a year ago, with Guadalupe taking on primary responsibility for daily operational matters.

Source: WWD

Andrew Marshall, CEO Developing Brands, Labelux

Labelux has announced the appointment of Andrew Marshall to the newly created position of CEO Developing Brands, effective 1 December 2011. Mr. Marshall has worked with Gucci Group, Dunhill, Montblanc and Links of London, and will now oversee the strategic, financial and operational growth of Solange Azagury Partridge, Derek Lam and Zagliani.

Source: Labelux

Ali Kasikci, Regional Managing Director, Orient Express

Orient Express has announced the appointment of Ali V. Kasikci as Regional Managing Director for North America, Mexico and the Caribbean, effective January 30, 2012. Mr. Kasikci joins Orient-Express from the Hillcrest Country Club in Los Angeles, where as Chief Executive Officer & General Manager he oversaw a multi-million dollar renovation.

Source: PR Newswire

Giovanni Zoppas, CEO, Marcolin

Eyewear producer Marcolin SpA has appointed Giovanni Zoppas as CEO and general manager, effective February 1, 2012. Previously Mr. Zoppas has served at Benetton Group, Nordica and as chief financial officer and CEO of Coin Group.

Source: WWD

Jean-Christophe Bédos, President & CEO, Birks & Mayors

Former head of jewellery house Boucheron, Jean-Christophe Bédos, has been named Birks & Mayors president & CEO. He will replace Thomas A. Andruskevich who announced in September 2011 that he would be leaving the company in the spring.

Source: Forbes

Stephane Lafay, Group Vice President Asia Pacific, Tiffany & Co

Former president of Tiffany Japan, Stephane Lafay, has been appointed to the newly created position of group vice president of its Asia- Pacific region. Mr. Lafay, who joined the New York-based jeweller in 2009 will retain his title of president in Japan, but is currently looking for a managing director in the region.

Source: WWD

Marc Gläser, Managing Director, Maurice Lacroix

Effective January 1, 2012, Marc Gläser, who has held various executive positions at Maurice Lacroix over the past seven years, will assume the newly created role of Managing Director Maurice Lacroix. This appointment follows the acquisition of a majority shareholding by DKSH in mid 2011.

Source: Trusted Watch

Michel Koopman, Director of Middle Eastern Operations, Anantara

Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas has announced the appointment of Michel Koopman as Director of Operations in the Middle East, as well as General Manager for Eastern Mangroves Hotel & Spa by Anantara. Mr. Koopman’s responsibilities include overseeing the running of all of Anantara’s UAE based properties and spearheading launches in the region.

Source: Zawya

Philippe Pascal, Advisory Committee for Luxury Goods, WISeKey

Leading information security and identity management company WISeKey, announces the appointment of Mr. Philippe Pascal to its Advisory Committee to Foster its Brand Protection Strategy for Luxury Goods. Mr. Pascal headed LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton watches and jewellery activities since 2001 and recently served as Advisor to the Chairman, Bernard Arnault.

Source: PR Newswire

Greg Nise, Associate Director Entertainment Industry Relations, Gucci

Gucci has appointed Greg Nise as its Los Angeles-based associate director of worldwide entertainment industry relations, just in time for award season. Mr. Nise has worked for the last 12 years at Giorgio Armani, most recently as the L.A.-based senior director of entertainment industry public relations.

Source: WWD

For more in the series of The Latest Appointments, please see our most recent editions as follows:

The Latest Appointments, Jimmy Choo, PPR & Boucheron
The Latest Appointments, Cerruti, Berluti & Parmigiani
The Latest Appointments, Ruinart, Sotheby’s & Ralph Lauren

Sophie Doran
Sophie Doran

Creative Strategist, Digital

Sophie Doran is currently Senior Creative Strategist, Digital at Karla Otto. Prior to this role, she was the Paris-based editor-in-chief of Luxury Society. Prior to joining Luxury Society, Sophie completed her MBA in Melbourne, Australia, with a focus on luxury brand dynamics and leadership, whilst simultaneously working in management roles for several luxury retailers.

LEADERS

The Latest Appointments, Bulgari, Labelux & Net-a-Porter

by

Sophie Doran

|

This is the featured image caption
Credit : This is the featured image credit

The Latest Appointments at Fendi, Ralph Lauren, Tiffany & Co, Orient Express, Façonnable, PPR, Veuve Clicquot and Hublot

Over the last decade, collaborations between luxury brands and contemporary artists have gone beyond mere artistic partnerships towards a new kind of luxury branding.

PARIS – Art and fashion have always developed side by side, for fashion, like art, often gives visual expression to the cultural zeitgeist. During the 1920s, Salvador Dalí created dresses for Coco Chanel and Elsa Schiapparelli. In the 1930s, Ferragamo’s shoes commissioned designs for advertisements from Futurist painter Lucio Venna, while Gianni Versace commissioned works from artists such as Alighiero Boetti and Roy Lichtenstein for the launch of his collections. Yves Saint Laurent’s vast art collection, recently auctioned at Christie’s in Paris, testified to his great love of art and revealed the influence of a variety of artists on his own designs.

In the 1980s, relationships between luxury brands and artists were advanced when Alain Dominique Perrin created the Fondation Cartier. In the Fondation Cartier pour l’Art Contemporain, a book marking the foundation’s 20th anniversary, Perrin says he makes “a connection between all the different sorts of arts, and luxury goods are a kind of art. Luxury goods are handicrafts of art, applied art.”

The Fondation Cartier pour l’Art Contemparain building in Paris

The Latest Appointments at Fendi, Ralph Lauren, Tiffany & Co, Orient Express, Façonnable, PPR, Veuve Clicquot and Hublot

The Latest Appointments at Fendi, Ralph Lauren, Tiffany & Co, Orient Express, Façonnable, PPR, Veuve Clicquot and Hublot.

Could this potentially be our biggest listing of appointments yet? It’s not everyday you see leadership changes at no less than five LVMH controlled brands all in the space of two months. Let alone global presidential roles announced at Ralph Lauren, and strategic leadership appointments at Labelux, PPR and, Richemont controlled Net-a-Porter. For good measure, Mulberry, Marcolin and Maurice Lacroix will also ring in 2012 will new leaders at the helm.

And this is without consideration of some very notable exits. Hublot have announced that Jean-Claude Biver – described aptly by WWD as one of the most charismatic figures in the Swiss watch industry – is to step back from operations at Hublot to focus on product development and marketing initiatives for the brand.

Across the proverbial lake in Switzerland, Labelux’s Bally has very quietly parted ways with CEO Berndt Hauptkorn. As no official statement has yet been made, details of the split remain unknown, as do Mr. Hauptkorn’s next move. Following Jimmy Choo’s Tamara Mellon and Joshua Schulman out of the Labelux stable.

Finally, head of PPR’s e-commerce unit, Fabien Sfez, has confirmed his resignation, as he moves into the managing director role at Internet retailer Pixmania. WWD believes a replacement for Mr. Sfez, who sat on PPR’s executive committee, will be made shortly.

Michael Burke, CEO, Bulgari

LVMH has appointed Michael Burke as CEO of Bulgari, effective February, 2012. Most recently Mr. Burke was chairman and CEO of Fendi, leading the brand since 2003. He has worked for LVMH since joining Christian Dior in 1986 to head up the US operations.

Source: Bloomberg

Wolfgang Egger, Head of Brand Design, Audi

Serving as head of Audi group design since April 2007, Wolfgang Egger has now also been appointed head of brand design for the German automaker. Mr. Egger replaces current design boss Stefan Sielaff, who is to become Head of the Volkswagen Design Center in Potsdam, Germany, and Head of Interior Design for the entire Volkswagen Group.

Source: Motor Authority

Stephane Baschiera, CEO, Moët & Chandon

LVMH has announced the appointment of Stephane Baschiera as Chief Executive Officer of Moët & Chandon, effective March 2012. Mr. Baschiera joined Moët Hennessy, the wines and spirits division of LVMH, in 1996 and held the CEO position of Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin from 2009.

Source: The Moodie Report

Daniel Lalonde, President, Ralph Lauren International

Another LVMH Alumni, Daniel Lalonde, has joined Ralph Lauren Corp. as the president of Ralph Lauren International. Mr. Lalonde most recently served as CEO of Moët & Chandon, after leadership roles at Louis Vuitton North America and Tag Heuer.

Source: WWD

Alison Loehnis, Managing Director, Net-a-Porter

Online fashion and luxury retailer has promoted Alison Loehnis to the post of managing director of Net-a-porter.com. Ms. Loehnis has been with the company since 2007, serving most recently as vice president of sales and marketing.

Source: Fashion’s United

Jean-Marc Duplaix, CFO, PPR

PPR has appointed a new chief financial officer, Jean-Marc Duplaix, previously deputy CFO at France’s second-largest private broadcaster, M6. The move comes as PPR widens the role of Group Managing Director, Jean-Francois Palus, to focus on the company’s expansion strategy.

Source: Reuters

Jean-Marc Lacave, CEO, Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin

Succeeding Stephane Baschiera, who will now serve as CEO of Moet & Chandon, Jean-Marc Lacave has been appointed CEO of Maison Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin. Mr. Lacave joined the Watches & Jewellery division of the LVMH Group in the UK in 2001. Since 2007 he has been Chief Executive Officer of Watches & Jewellery in Asia.

Source: The Moodie Report

Bruno Guillon, CEO, Mulberry

Former managing director of Hermès France, Bruno Guillon, has been announced by Mulberry as chief executive to replace Godfrey Davis, who will move into a non-executive chairman role. Guillon joined Hermes in 2001, after working at LVMH and Nina Ricci.

Source: Reuters

Pietro Beccari, CEO, Fendi

Pietro Beccari has been tapped to replace Michael Burke as CEO of Fendi, as Mr. Burke takes up the same position at Bulgari. Mr. Beccari joined LVMH in 2006 as Executive Vice-President Marketing and Communications for Louis Vuitton. His successor at Vuitton is yet to be announced.

Source: Business Wire

Julian Neale, Artistic Director, Façonnable

Owned by Lebanon-based M1 Group, Façonnable has named Julian Neale as its new artistic director. The brand has been designed as team since January 2010, following the departure of former creative director Eric Wright.

Source: WWD

Ricardo Guadalupe, CEO, Hublot

Following Jean-Claude Biver’s step back from day-to-day operations at Hublot, his right-hand man Ricardo Guadalupe has been promoted from managing director to CEO effective Jan. 1. The transaction is said to have taken place more than a year ago, with Guadalupe taking on primary responsibility for daily operational matters.

Source: WWD

Andrew Marshall, CEO Developing Brands, Labelux

Labelux has announced the appointment of Andrew Marshall to the newly created position of CEO Developing Brands, effective 1 December 2011. Mr. Marshall has worked with Gucci Group, Dunhill, Montblanc and Links of London, and will now oversee the strategic, financial and operational growth of Solange Azagury Partridge, Derek Lam and Zagliani.

Source: Labelux

Ali Kasikci, Regional Managing Director, Orient Express

Orient Express has announced the appointment of Ali V. Kasikci as Regional Managing Director for North America, Mexico and the Caribbean, effective January 30, 2012. Mr. Kasikci joins Orient-Express from the Hillcrest Country Club in Los Angeles, where as Chief Executive Officer & General Manager he oversaw a multi-million dollar renovation.

Source: PR Newswire

Giovanni Zoppas, CEO, Marcolin

Eyewear producer Marcolin SpA has appointed Giovanni Zoppas as CEO and general manager, effective February 1, 2012. Previously Mr. Zoppas has served at Benetton Group, Nordica and as chief financial officer and CEO of Coin Group.

Source: WWD

Jean-Christophe Bédos, President & CEO, Birks & Mayors

Former head of jewellery house Boucheron, Jean-Christophe Bédos, has been named Birks & Mayors president & CEO. He will replace Thomas A. Andruskevich who announced in September 2011 that he would be leaving the company in the spring.

Source: Forbes

Stephane Lafay, Group Vice President Asia Pacific, Tiffany & Co

Former president of Tiffany Japan, Stephane Lafay, has been appointed to the newly created position of group vice president of its Asia- Pacific region. Mr. Lafay, who joined the New York-based jeweller in 2009 will retain his title of president in Japan, but is currently looking for a managing director in the region.

Source: WWD

Marc Gläser, Managing Director, Maurice Lacroix

Effective January 1, 2012, Marc Gläser, who has held various executive positions at Maurice Lacroix over the past seven years, will assume the newly created role of Managing Director Maurice Lacroix. This appointment follows the acquisition of a majority shareholding by DKSH in mid 2011.

Source: Trusted Watch

Michel Koopman, Director of Middle Eastern Operations, Anantara

Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas has announced the appointment of Michel Koopman as Director of Operations in the Middle East, as well as General Manager for Eastern Mangroves Hotel & Spa by Anantara. Mr. Koopman’s responsibilities include overseeing the running of all of Anantara’s UAE based properties and spearheading launches in the region.

Source: Zawya

Philippe Pascal, Advisory Committee for Luxury Goods, WISeKey

Leading information security and identity management company WISeKey, announces the appointment of Mr. Philippe Pascal to its Advisory Committee to Foster its Brand Protection Strategy for Luxury Goods. Mr. Pascal headed LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton watches and jewellery activities since 2001 and recently served as Advisor to the Chairman, Bernard Arnault.

Source: PR Newswire

Greg Nise, Associate Director Entertainment Industry Relations, Gucci

Gucci has appointed Greg Nise as its Los Angeles-based associate director of worldwide entertainment industry relations, just in time for award season. Mr. Nise has worked for the last 12 years at Giorgio Armani, most recently as the L.A.-based senior director of entertainment industry public relations.

Source: WWD

For more in the series of The Latest Appointments, please see our most recent editions as follows:

The Latest Appointments, Jimmy Choo, PPR & Boucheron
The Latest Appointments, Cerruti, Berluti & Parmigiani
The Latest Appointments, Ruinart, Sotheby’s & Ralph Lauren

Sophie Doran
Sophie Doran

Creative Strategist, Digital

Sophie Doran is currently Senior Creative Strategist, Digital at Karla Otto. Prior to this role, she was the Paris-based editor-in-chief of Luxury Society. Prior to joining Luxury Society, Sophie completed her MBA in Melbourne, Australia, with a focus on luxury brand dynamics and leadership, whilst simultaneously working in management roles for several luxury retailers.

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