LVMH Watches: Babin Prepares to Step Down, Jean Arnault as Natural Heir

Jean-Christophe Babin, 67, who will hand over the reins of the Bulgari brand next July to Laura Burdese, the brand’s current deputy CEO, recently discussed his succession to the leadership of LVMH’s watch division. According to him, Jean Arnault would be “the ideal person,” highlighting his deep understanding of watchmaking and his involvement at Louis Vuitton, where he leads La Fabrique du Temps.

The latter was founded in 2011 in Geneva by master watchmakers Michel Navas and Enrico Barbasini, then integrated into Louis Vuitton that same year. Its creation responded to a clear ambition: to endow the house with watchmaking legitimacy by bringing together the finest masters of artisanal watchmaking expertise. Under the impetus of the young heir, La Fabrique du Temps has become a true strategic laboratory for LVMH.

Jean-Christophe Babin thus demonstrates deep confidence in his potential successor. His statement stands out for its clarity in a group where succession is usually played out behind the scenes. He will nevertheless remain Chairman of the Board of Directors of Bulgari, CEO of Bulgari Hotels & Resorts, and President of the Bulgari Foundation.

Trained in engineering at Imperial College and MIT, Jean Arnault quickly made his mark in watchmaking by repositioning Louis Vuitton’s offering, notably by developing “high-complication” timepieces. He also played a key role in the revival and integration of the haute horlogerie houses Daniel Roth and Gérald Genta into the LVMH group in 2023. Another project spearheaded by the youngest member of the Arnault family, of which he is the founder: the Louis Vuitton Watch Prize for Independent Creatives has successfully established itself among the vanguard of watchmaking and brought young talent to the forefront.

Beyond these initiatives, his ability to organize and lead cross-functional teams and to collaborate with various disciplines—design, production, marketing—holds great promise for his capacity to oversee a portfolio of brands. In a group where identities as diverse as TAG Heuer, Hublot, and Zenith coexist, this ability to see the big picture will be decisive.

Historically, LVMH has built this segment through targeted acquisitions (Hublot in 2008, Bulgari in 2011) and a strategy of moving upmarket. The appointment of Jean-Christophe Babin to this position in 2025 was, in fact, already part of a strategy of consolidation and revitalization.

The division posted revenue of €10.5 billion in 2025, with a slight decline (1% on a reported basis) compared to 2024, primarily due to a weaker Asian market. The Jean Arnault scenario could signal a strategic refocusing: greater legitimacy and accelerated vertical integration around manufacturers such as La Fabrique du Temps. Watchmaking, long considered a satellite division, could thus become a testing ground for the next generation of Arnaults.