Philippe Pascal, President of LVMH Watches and Jewelry, announced that Jean-Frédéric Dufour will officially take over as President and CEO of Zenith as of June 1. Dufour takes over from Thierry Nataf, who left the Group on May 1. During the transition period, Valery Lachaux, LVMH Watches & Jewelry HR Director, will take over the position on an interim basis. "Jean-Frédéric Dufour joins us having gained a wealth of experience in the watch industry, which will be a cornerstone in the brand's future development," said Philippe Pascal, President of LVMH Watches and Jewelry.
A graduate of the University of Geneva with a degree in Commercial and Industrial Sciences, Dufour has held positions of responsibility in various areas of different watch brands, from sales to marketing, manufacturing and management (Chopard and Cie Genève, Swatch Group, Ulysse Nardin). Prior to joining LVMH, he was in charge of product development for Chopard, since 2001.
Rumour has it that Dufour is very close to Jean-Claude Biver, President of Hublot and the 'deus ex machina' of haute horlogerie: former creator of Blancpain and the success of Omega in years gone by, now with the LVMH group.
