LVMH Watches Appoints Jean-Christophe Babin as CEO

LVMH has named Bulgari CEO Jean-Christophe Babin as CEO of the group’s watches division, where he will maintain overall responsibility for both brands. 

Babin, who will start his new role at LVMH Watches on April 1, began his career at the conglomerate in 2000 as the CEO of TAG Heuer, before joining Bulgari in 2013, the company said last week. In his new position, he will report to Stéphane Bianchi, managing director of LVMH. 

As head of LVMH Watches, Babin will succeed Frédéric Arnault, who will become CEO of LVMH-owned Italian luxury fashion brand Loro Piana. He will be in charge of developing elevation strategies for the group’s Hublot, TAG Heuer and Zenith brands. Julien Tornare, CEO of Hublot, Antoine Pin, CEO of TAG Heuer, and Benoit de Clerck, CEO of Zenith, will report to Babin. 

“Under the leadership of Arnault, the watches division has undertaken a significant transformation, including the implementation of operational synergies between the group’s watchmaking maisons and substantial work on the positioning and challenges of each of them,” said Bianchi. “[Babin] will leverage his entrepreneurial spirit, energy, and exceptional leadership qualities to serve the sustainable and ambitious growth of the division.”