Jerôme Lambert (ex-Jaeger-LeCoultre. ex- Montblanc) nomeado COO do Richemont Group

(Jerôme Lambert aquando de uma das suas passagens por Lisboa, então na qualidade de CEO da Jaeger-LeCoultre - foto Fernando Correia de Olveira)

Jerôme Lambert que em Maio de 2013 deixou a liderança da manufactura relojoeira Jaeger-LeCoultre para assumir o mesmo cargo na Montblanc (ver aqui), e que nessa qualidade nos deu várias entrevista (ver aqui ou aqui), acaba de ser nomeado Chief Operating Officer do Richemont Group, um novo cargo agora criado.

As mudanças na liderança do Richemont Group sucedem-se após a saída em Julho deste ano de Georges Kern (ex-IWC) do cargo de Chefe dos Departamento de Relojoaria, Marketing e Digital (ver aqui), para o qual tinha sido nomeado em Novembro de 2016, altura em que Jerôme Lambert foi nomeado Chefe de Operações (ver aqui).

Desde há mais de uma década que os dois eram vistos como os "jovens turcos" a posicionarem-se para a chefia executiva do Richemont Group, cujo maior accionista é o sul-africano Johann Rupert (Chairman do grupo, que detém, além das marcas Jaeger-LeCoultre, IWC e Montblanc, outras como A. Lange & Söhne, Vacheron Constantin, Cartier, Piaget, Panerai, Van Cleef & Arpels ou Baume & Mercier, o que faz dele o maior do mundo em termos de Alta Relojoaria).

Com a saída de Kern, desde logo se especulou que Jerôme Lambert tinha agora as portas abertas para o cargo executivo, abaixo de Ruppert.

O comunicado:

Richemont, the Swiss luxury goods group, wishes to announce the following changes to its Senior Executive Committee.

Chief Operating Officer Mr Jérôme Lambert has been appointed to the newly created role of Chief Operating Officer. Mr Lambert will be responsible for all Maisons other than Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels. In addition, he will continue to be responsible for the Richemont regional support platforms and central support services, excluding Finance, Human Resources and Technology.

Specialist Watchmakers To assist Mr Lambert, Mr Emmanuel Perrin, currently International Sales Director of Cartier, will be appointed Head of Specialist Watchmakers Distribution. In this newly created position, he will be responsible for the coordination of all Specialist Watchmakers’ distribution strategies. Mr Perrin will join the Senior Executive Committee effective immediately.

Commenting on the changes, Mr Johann Rupert, Chairman, said:

“The changes announced today will continue our transformation of the Specialist Watchmakers’ business models to meet the demands of today’s environment. Mr Perrin, in his twenty-five years with the Group, has been successful with Van Cleef & Arpels and, most recently, Cartier, in developing partnerships with our wholesale partners. A prime area of focus will be matching supply with end customer demand.”

Entretanto, o Richemont Grouo divulgava também hoje o resultado auditado dos seis meses ter,minados a 30 de Setembro de 2017. As vendas auamentaram 8 por cento e os lucros a aumentarem 80 por cento face ao semestre anterior.

Do comunicado:

Financial highlights

Sales increased by 10% at actual exchange rates to € 5 605 million and by 12% at constant exchange rates. Excluding the prior year period’s inventory buy-backs, sales increased by 8% at constant exchange rates.

Growth in all segments, regions and distribution channels

Double digit growth in jewellery and watches

Double digit increases in mainland China, Korea, Hong Kong and the United Kingdom

Operating profit increased by 46% to € 1 166 million, with profit for the period up 80% to € 974 million

Cash flow from operations increased by 66% to € 1 108 million