PARIS — Roman jewellery house Bulgari is strengthening its management team by promoting Laura Bardese to the newly created role of deputy chief executive officer, WWD reported.
Burdese, an Italian national, is currently vice president of marketing and communications for the LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton jewellery house, a role he has held since January 2022. In his new role, he will oversee the jewellery, watches, fragrances and leather goods businesses, while retaining his previous responsibilities.
Already based in Rome, she will take up her new role on September 1st and will continue to report to CEO Jean-Christophe Babin.
“I am very pleased with Laura’s promotion and Bvlgari’s new structure, which will enable us to continue managing our resources in a more integrated, efficient and high-quality manner while further leveraging our brand platform,” Babin said in an internal company statement seen by WWD.
He praised her “sharp business acumen coupled with product creativity” which has helped her play a key role in the brand’s elevation strategy since joining the company.
A graduate of the University of Trieste, Burdesse began his career in the beauty industry, working in brand management positions at Beiersdorf and L’Oreal, before moving into watchmaking in 1999, when he joined the Swatch Group.
She has held various leadership roles at the Swiss group, most recently as president and CEO of Calvin Klein Watches & Jewelry Co., a position she has held since 2012. The Italian executive joined LVMH in 2016 as president and CEO of Acqua di Parma, before moving to Bvlgari in 2022.
Meanwhile, changes described in a separate internal announcement as “part of the enhancement and upgrading strategy” of LVMH’s watch division, which was created in January and is run by CEO Frédéric Arnault, are also due to take effect on September 1.
Ricardo Guadalupe, who has been CEO of watch brand Hublot since 2012 and managing director for eight years before that, will become the company’s honorary chairman, a non-executive role, and will be succeeded by Julien Tornare, CEO of TAG Heuer.
Julian Tornare
Provided by LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton
Antoine Pin, currently managing director of watchmaking at Bvlgari, will take over as CEO of TAG Heuer, although his successor at the luxury watchmaker has yet to be announced.
Arnault praised Guadalupe’s 20-year tenure at Hublot and said that in his new role he would “ensure that we respect the values that have guided the Maison’s success.”
He went on to describe Tornare’s joining Hublot as a new chapter in “strengthening our unique position among leading watch brands,” and highlighted Ping’s “extensive international experience, expertise and recognised passion for watches.”
This marks Ping’s return to TAG Heuer. A graduate of the prestigious HEC Paris Business School, Ping joined TAG Heuer in 1994 as junior sales manager for DFS and the Middle East, before it was acquired by LVMH in 1999.
Antoine Ping
Provided by LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton
He joined the French luxury group in 2002 as international marketing director for Zenith and held several management positions within the group before being appointed managing director of Bvlgari’s watch division.
