Jean-Claude Biver, LVMH’s head of watches, calls time on his operational role
He joined French luxury goods conglomerate in 2008, when it acquired the Hublot brand he was leading, and has been president of division since 2014
Jean-Claude Biver has confirmed reports that he is to relinquish his operational responsibilities as the head of the watch division at the French multinational luxury goods conglomerate, LVMH.
“I am giving up my operational responsibilities, but I’m staying as non-executive president of LVMH’s watch unit and its three watch brands, TAG Heuer, Zenith and Hublot,” Biver, 69, who was born in Luxembourg, said on Thursday.
“I’ll no longer be cutting the onions and crying in the kitchen early in the morning, I’ll just come later to see if they are ready,” Biver, who has been suffering from serious health problems in recent months, added.
He said he was doing better, but had not yet fully recovered.
Biver, one of the Swiss watch industry’s best-known and most successful managers, joined LVMH in 2008 when it acquired the Hublot brand he was leading at the time.
He was appointed president of LVMH’s watch business in 2014.
LVMH’s watch and jewellery division had sales of €3.8 billion (US$4.5 billion) in 2017, up 12 per cent on a like-for-like basis, which strips out currency swings and acquisitions.
I’m staying as non-executive president of LVMH’s watch unit and its three watch brands, TAG Heuer, Zenith and Hublot ... I’ll no longer be cutting the onions and crying in the kitchen early in the morning, I’ll just come later to see if they are ready