Jean-Christophe Babin Appointed CEO of LVMH Watches as Group Strengthens Strategic Focus

Luxury conglomerate LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton has announced the appointment of Jean-Christophe Babin as CEO of its watch division, a move that places one of the most experienced and respected executives in the industry at the head of a portfolio that includes TAG Heuer, Hublot, Zenith, Bvlgari, and Louis Vuitton’s watchmaking division.

The announcement follows the departure of Frédéric Arnault, who steps into the role of CEO at Loro Piana, the Italian luxury fashion house acquired by LVMH in 2013.

A Veteran with a Cross-Disciplinary Vision

Jean-Christophe Babin began his career at Procter & Gamble, where he spent over a decade in marketing and international brand development before transitioning to the luxury sector. In 2000, he became CEO of TAG Heuer, where he played a pivotal role in expanding the brand’s international presence and reinforcing its identity as a pioneer in precision timing and avant-garde design.

His tenure at TAG Heuer saw the consolidation of its partnership with Formula 1, the development of the Monaco V4 concept (the world’s first belt-driven mechanical watch), and a firm repositioning towards luxury sportswear aesthetics with accessible pricing.

In 2013, Babin was appointed CEO of Bvlgari, the Rome-based maison best known for its high jewellery. Over the next decade, he spearheaded a transformation of the brand’s watch division into one of the most technically credible in the industry.

Under his leadership, Bvlgari launched the now-acclaimed Octo Finissimo line, which redefined ultra-thin mechanical watchmaking. The series broke multiple world records and earned the brand accolades at the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG), firmly establishing Bvlgari as a serious player in haute horlogerie. During the same period, the maison also opened a state-of-the-art integrated watch manufacture in Le Sentier, in Switzerland’s Vallée de Joux.

Portfolio with Distinct Identities

LVMH’s watchmaking division remains relatively lean compared to Richemont and Swatch Group, but its strength lies in the distinctive positioning of its brands:

• TAG Heuer: a historically motorsport-linked manufacture with increasing emphasis on connected watches and high-tech materials

• Hublot: known for its “Art of Fusion” approach, blending unexpected materials like sapphire, Magic Gold, and ceramic

• Zenith: a manufacture famed for the El Primero, one of the first high-frequency chronograph movements in history

• Bvlgari: a design-led watchmaker now recognised for record-breaking thinness and architectural case construction

• Louis Vuitton: increasingly investing in independent horology via La Fabrique du Temps, developing high complications under the guidance of Michel Navas and Enrico Barbasini

With Babin’s appointment, all five brands will now fall under the umbrella of a single executive with deep experience in brand repositioning, technical innovation, and global retail strategy.

Frédéric Arnault: A New Chapter at Loro Piana

Frédéric Arnault, son of LVMH chairman Bernard Arnault, rose rapidly through the group’s ranks. After joining TAG Heuer in 2017, he was appointed CEO in 2020 at the age of 25. During his tenure, he led the brand’s digital transformation, oversaw the expansion of its Connected Watch platform, and repositioned TAG Heuer as a forward-looking luxury brand focused on new technologies and younger audiences.

He became CEO of LVMH Watches in early 2024 before being tapped to lead Loro Piana in 2025, reflecting the group’s strategy to rotate rising executives across key maisons.

What Babin’s Appointment Signals

Industry observers view Babin’s return to a group-level role as a move towards consolidated leadership and long-term brand development. His combination of strategic clarity, product insight, and marketing instinct is well-suited to a division that balances volume-driven brands like TAG Heuer with high-concept manufactures like Bvlgari and Zenith.

In a post-pandemic landscape where experiential luxury, integrated storytelling, and cross-category synergy are increasingly central to brand success, Babin’s holistic approach may help LVMH Watches capitalise on opportunities in Asia, the Middle East, and among next-generation collectors.

With this transition, LVMH reaffirms its commitment to serious watchmaking—not as a sideline to fashion, but as a pillar of its identity in the global luxury space.