Hermès
French luxury brand Hermès has nominated three candidates for its board of directors:
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Jean-Laurent Bonnafé, CEO of BNP Paribas SA, for a three-year term
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Bernard Emié, former Director of the General Directorate for External Security (DGSE) of France, for a two-year term
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Cécile Béliot-Zind, CEO of dairy company Bel Group, for a three-year term
From left to right: Jean-Laurent Bonnafé, Bernard Emié, Cécile Béliot-Zind
These nominations will be submitted for a shareholder vote at the Annual General Meeting on April 30.
Jean-Laurent Bonnafé is set to succeed 71-year-old Vice Chair Dominique Senequier, who is also the founder and CEO of French private equity firm Ardian.
Bernard Emié will replace Alexandre Viros. Emié served as Director of the DGSE for nearly seven years, stepping down in January 2024. Prior to that, he held ambassadorial posts in Algeria, the United Kingdom, Turkey, and Lebanon.
Louis Vuitton
French luxury brand Louis Vuitton has announced the departure of Francesca Amfitheatrof, Artistic Director of Watches and Jewelry.
Francesca Amfitheatrof said, “I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to create jewelry and high jewelry collections for Louis Vuitton. After seven passionate and creative years, I am proud of the body of work and the archive I leave behind, and I look forward to soon announcing new plans.”
Since her appointment in 2018, Amfitheatrof has been responsible for elevating the brand’s high jewelry offerings and led the team in using cut diamonds to interpret Louis Vuitton’s iconic monogram motifs, such as the four-petal flower. During her tenure, she oversaw the launch of six high jewelry collections.
Before joining Louis Vuitton, she served as the first female design director at American jewelry house Tiffany & Co. from 2014 to 2018. She also designed jewelry for Marni, Fendi, and Chanel. Earlier in her career, she was a senior high jewelry designer at British heritage jeweler Asprey & Garrard and served as the curator of the Gucci Museum in Florence.
Born in Tokyo, Amfitheatrof studied at Central Saint Martins, Chelsea College of Art, and the Royal College of Art in London. She debuted her first silverware collection in 1993 at the White Cube gallery, owned by art dealer Jay Jopling. Her work has been sold at concept stores including Colette in Paris, Browns in London, Luisa Via Roma in Florence, Jeffreys in New York, and Joyce in Hong Kong.
Mugler
French fashion and fragrance house Mugler has appointed Portuguese designer Miguel Castro Freitas as its new Creative Director, succeeding Casey Cadwallader.
In his new role, Miguel Castro Freitas will lead all creative aspects of Mugler’s fashion division. His debut collection for the brand—Spring/Summer 2026—will be unveiled later at Paris Fashion Week.
A 2004 graduate of Central Saint Martins’ womenswear program, Freitas previously worked at Dior under John Galliano, Yves Saint Laurent under Stefano Pilati, and Lanvin during Alber Elbaz’s tenure. He also served as Head of Tailoring at Christian Dior under Raf Simons, and worked directly with Dries Van Noten as Head of Womenswear.
Norqain
Swiss independent watchmaker Norqain has announced that former footballer, entrepreneur, and TV pundit Gary Neville has joined its board of directors.
According to the Financial Times, Neville made a “significant” investment in Norqain prior to the appointment, though the exact amount was not disclosed. The move comes as the brand ramps up its expansion in the UK, where Neville is expected to play a key role in strategic development.
In February, Norqain established its UK and Ireland subsidiary and appointed Martyn Jenkins as General Manager.
Founded in 2018 by former Swiss professional ice hockey player Mark Streit, Norqain is known for its functional and versatile Swiss mechanical watches. The brand has collaborated with athletes such as tennis player Stanislas Wawrinka, ice hockey player Roman Josi, and skier Tina Weirather. Notably, Wawrinka is also an investor in the brand.
Since its launch, Norqain has grown rapidly, producing between 10,000 and 15,000 watches annually, with an average retail price of around £4,000 per piece (approximately USD 5,000). The company reported a 28% year-on-year increase in sales for 2024.
| Source: Bloomberg, Financial Times, Fashion Network
| Image Credit: Official company websites, personal social media accounts
| Editor: LeZhi
