The news has just broken: just like in the world of sports, the big stars in luxury management are coveted by the best teams. Two days ago Luc Perramond himself, still CEO of La Montre Hermès announced in a brief statement that "I have been appointed CEO of Ralph Lauren Watches and Jewelry, division of the Ralph Lauren group, effective February 2015. I am excited for this new challenge, especially because I will be working hand in hand with Ralph Lauren himself, one of the great designers of our time. »
It must be remembered that Luc Perramond is not new to the watch industry... well, in fact he is quite a veteran, since since 1988 he was in charge of reviving the venerable Heuer, putting TAG-Heuer at the top of world watchmaking during the ten years he was at the helm (the American market went from ten to one hundred million dollars in those ten years).
Later, in aleverage buy-outTogether with other directors, he bought the brand, took it public and sold a part to the colossus LVMH, also becoming vice president of the jewelry and watch division in said group... which he left in 2000 to found and direct LP, a consulting firm specialized in the luxury sector.
Restless spirit, in 2002 he left the consulting firm to join the board of directors and be the president for Europe and Asia of the Brazilian H. Stern Jewelers, a position he held for seven years.
In 2009, with the economic crisis already established on the global scene, he joined Hermès as head of the watch division. By then - in 2006 - Montre Hermès had already bought 25% of the capital of its caliber supplier.Vaucher Manufacture Fleurier, the Parmigiani manufacture, for 16 million euros. Even so, and with nearly 90 million euros, the business volume of this division - there are fourteen - did not represent more than 5% of the group's total. Since the incorporation of Perramond, La Montre Hermès has experienced an enormous leap upward, providing unprecedented but above all poetic complications, such as the ArceauTemps Suspendu and l'Heure Masquée.
Who will succeed him? I have no idea, but I would bet on someone from the House, also a signing at the time. With experience, with the Hermès philosophy running through his veins and who, among others, masters a language that is not common among CEOs in the luxury sector. And he also wears glasses.
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