A look back at some of the moves that took place in the C-suite this year. Each year brings its share of changes and surprises at watch brands. Finding it hard to keep up? Here’s our guide to who’s who.
Lionel a Marca, CEO, Breguet
A thirty-year veteran of Swatch Group, Lionel a Marca was in charge of products for Blancpain for several years. He also worked for Harry Winston and joined Breguet in 2019 “We’re expecting a very positive 2022 at Breguet,” he told WorldTempus. “Our watches are renowned for their quality and we’re working hard on making them even more desirable.” All of which should stand the brand in good stead for its 250th anniversary in 2025.
Benjamin Arabov, CEO, Jacob & Co
For Benjamin Arabov the only way is up. The success of the 28-year-old’s Grow Enrollments digital marketing company earned him a place on the 2021 Forbes 30 Under 30 list. A graduate of the Gemmological Institute of America-New York, in 2017 he joined the watch firm founded by his father, Jacob Arabo, in a consultancy role. He’s now in the frontline since taking over as CEO in March.
Nicolas Beau, Vice President, Tiffany Horlogerie
At the head of business development for Chanel watches and jewellery from 2017, Nicolas Beau was part of the reimagining of the brand’s iconic J12 in 2019. The mission to “change everything while changing nothing” was a tough one which the teams carried off with brio. After exiting Chanel, Beau began his new position as Vice President for watches at Tiffany & Co. with a bang, when the retailer collaborated with Patek Philippe on a Nautilus to mark their 170-year partnership. The first of the 170 watches in this limited edition auctioned early in December for a record-setting $6.5 million.
Davide Cerrato, CEO, HYT
We first met him at Panerai where he was head of communication from 2004, leaving in 2007 to lead the marketing, design and product development team at Tudor. In October this year, Davide Cerrato left his position, since 2015, as Managing Director of Montblanc watches to take over at the helm of HYT, recently revived with new shareholders.
Benjamin Comar, CEO, Piaget
He would be hard-pressed to choose between watches and jewellery. Fortunately for Piaget’s new CEO, who replaced Chabi Nouri in June, Benjamin Comar won’t have to decide as the brand is busy in both areas. Comar, who earned his stripes as Director of Chanel Fine Jewellery prior to his position as CEO of Repossi, knows the jewellery world inside out. At this year’s GPHG, Piaget’s Limelight Gala Precious Rainbow watch won the Ladies’ Watch prize while the Altiplano Ultimate Automatic, a men’s watch, claimed the Mechanical Exception prize. “This demonstrates the scope of Piaget’s expertise,” Comar commented. “Watches are about pleasure, passion and taste. These prizes encourage us to continue to innovate.”
Alain Delamuraz, CEO, Jaquet Droz
His first steps in watchmaking were at Omega in 1996. He then took the mantle of Vice President Marketing at Blancpain where he remained until 2018. After returning to the hotel industry where he began his career, this year Alain Delamuraz was back at Swatch Group in his new position as CEO of Jaquet Droz, taking over from Christian Lattmann who was appointed Vice President and Head of Product Management at Blancpain.
Laurent Lecamp, Managing Director, Montblanc Watch Division
After co-founding Cyrus in 2010, Laurent Lecamp joined Carl F. Bucherer as Executive Vice President of Sales in 2014. Since January 2021, he’s steered Montblanc’s watch division. Speaking to WorldTempus, he described his goal as “to set up a more proactive commercial strategy by introducing new concepts while using existing tools which have already proven to be very effective. Today, brands are looking to differentiate themselves and Montblanc can also achieve this by strengthening its foundations differently and by maximizing them.”
Anthony Ledru, President & CEO, Tiffany & Co.
When LVMH took over Tiffany & Co. early this year, it also installed a new management team to supercharge the iconic American jeweller, established in 1937. Leading the way is Anthony Ledru, seconded by Alexandre Arnault as Executive Vice President, Product and Communications. Together they intend to make Tiffany Blue everyone’s favourite colour.
Guido Terreni, CEO, Parmigiani Fleurier
2021 brought a new challenge for Guido Terreni, who had dedicated more than twenty years of his career to Bulgari including the past ten years as Managing Director of Bulgari Watches. In January he took the reins of Parmigiani Fleurier, which this year celebrated its 25th anniversary. A few months after his appointment, he told WorldTempus: “It is the brand’s job to be clear about its identity, its soul, and to communicate that effectively. By conveying this emotional dimension, and at the right price, Parmigiani Fleurier definitely has the potential to achieve this.”
