Frédéric Arnault, one of the sons of billionaire Bernard Arnault, is now the CEO of his family’s luxury conglomerate watch unit.
Luxury conglomerate LVMH has recently announced its appointment of Frédéric Arnault as the CEO of the company’s watch unit. The 29-year-old is the son of LVMH CEO and Chairman Bernard Arnault, making him one of the heirs to his family’s hefty fortune along with his four siblings. According to Reuters’ Mimosa Spencer, the entrepreneur will be managing the TAG Heuer, Hublot, and Zenith brands. All together, these three houses are worth an estimated $1.9 billion (€1.7 billion), as per Laure Guilbault of Vogue Business.
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Frédéric is no stranger to the world of luxury watches, as he joined TAG Heuer in 2017 and became its CEO in 2020, Vogue Business adds. Reuters states that the promotion is a part of a larger change in management, as former Zenith CEO Julien Tornare replaces Frédéric as the leader of TAG Heuer, while Benoit de Clerck—a former Richemont (CFR.S) executive—takes the lead at Zenith. Tornare, Richemont, and seasoned Hublot CEO Ricardo Guadalupe will all be reporting to the Arnault heir. Meanwhile, Frédéric will be reporting to Stephane Bianchi, the CEO of LVMH’s jewelry and watches division.
Leading Horology
The second-youngest son of Bernard Arnault is set to lead LVMH’s watch brands to new heights—something he’s already proven capable of during his time as TAG Heuer CEO. Quartr’s Peter Westberg reports that the young man’s background in applied mathematics and engineering has allowed him to seamlessly blend the best of technology and luxury, elevating TAG Heuer’s position in the market. An example of this is when the brand released its very first smart watch in 2021, combining aesthetics with impressive tech under his leadership.
Vogue Business also credits Frédéric for signing a strategic long-term partnership with the prestigious Porsche, introducing the incorporation of lab-grown diamonds on watches, experimenting with the potential of NFTs, and creating effective marketing campaigns that utilized humor. His collective efforts have indeed given way to progress, with TAG Heuer sales climbing up from $803 (€733 million) to $859 million (€784 million) in 2022.
Strengthening the Family Business
As Frédéric takes an even bigger senior leadership role in his family’s luxury conglomerate, he joins his other siblings who’ve done the same. It’s no secret that Bernard Arnault has been training all five of his children to manage his sprawling and powerful empire, steadily molding them to become his successors and tighten the family’s hold on LVMH. The family, after all, is the second richest in the world with a fortune of around $187.2 billion, based on Forbes’ valuation.
Bernard’s eldest child and only daughter Delphine took on the role of CEO for Christian Dior in January 2023. His eldest son Antoine heads LVMH’s communications division, while his other son Alexandre serves as the EVP of Tiffany & Co. Meanwhile, the Arnault family’s youngest son, Jean, is the director of watches at Louis Vuitton.
Banner photo via Instagram @frederic.arnault.
