LVMH Names Biver Replacement

Stéphane Bianchi was tapped as ceo of the watch division.

PARIS — LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton has named Stéphane Bianchi head of the group’s watchmaking division replacing Jean-Claude Biver, who said he was relinquishing his operational duties this week.

The division reshuffle also includes the naming of Frédéric Arnault as strategy and digital director of Tag Heuer, paving the way for the latest member of the Arnault family to step into the spotlight. Arnault joined the watch brand last September as head of connected technologies.

Effective Nov. 1, Bianchi will lead Tag Heuer, with the chief executive officers of Hublot and Zenith reporting to him.

“The reorganization announced today will allow us to continue to grow our watchmaking division, with two objectives: delivering products of the highest technical quality, and continuing to grow our brands around the world,” LVMH chairman and ceo Bernard Arnault said in a statement.

As he welcomed Bianchi to the new position, Arnault also stressed the legacy of Biver, a towering figure widely recognized for his leadership in the watchmaking industry over the decades.

“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,” Arnault added.

Biver, who is 70, told WWD on Thursday he was receiving treatment for an unspecified illness and hoped to feel better by Christmas. ■