https://www.watchonista.com/article...jean-claude-biver-stepping-down-his-role-lvmh

 

Apparently his role at TH will be taken over by Stephane Bianchi and Frederic Arnault (youngest son of chief LVMH) will lead digital and strategy.

 

What is his health problem exactly ?

 

End of an era for sure. Here's to Biver and to the New Guard in taking our beloved brand to new heights!

 

Well Biver loves watches too but he sure hates subtlety. Here's to hoping the new guy has more respect for what put Heuer on the map in the first place

 

The irony of the lack of subtly in that statement is fantastic. Have some respect for a man in ill health.

 

LOL

 

I think given this forum is about Tag Heuer watches, it's fair comment to hope that a new leader might do things a bit differently - there are many enthusiasts of the brand (myself included) who didn't like the direction Biver took in relation to some things. And one can still do that whilst wishing him all the best and hoping his health improves (which of course I do).

From the sounds of things, though, Biver will still be in the background pulling a few strings.

 

The information is available online if you search. I don’t think it is tasteful for us to discuss it here. I’m surprised there was so much information about his condition in the French press tbh.

 

JCB seemed to be on a mission to get rid of TAG and go with Heuer only. I thought that may happen. Probably not now.

Wonder if that is why the Carrera 02 was delayed. I hope they don't kill it...

I bet JCB will focus his attention on Zenith now. TH strategy is in someone else hands now, and in the moment that is sad for me. I enjoyed his take on TH, apart form some dodgy brand ambassadors

 

What signs did you see making you think that he would "get rid of TAG and go with Heuer only"??

Also, I see no logic in why Carrera with the H02 mvmt being delayed would have anything to do with his health?

 

For me this is sad news, I love what he has done with the brand. Perfect balance between heritage and futuristic.

Lets hope that the new management gets rid of the fake Heuer logo on some of the Tag Heuer models, I still dont see why anyone would want to pretend that their Tag Heuer is a Heuer

 

He was quite open about his dislike for adding the TAG to the name, he mentioned it many times in interviews. With so many watches coming out with Heuer only and the nerd watch community talking a liking to the ideal of Heuer only, it seemed to me that it may not be such a far fetched option. I am indifferent either way on the name.

Modular Carreras were clearly his brain child, and the first ones to get the 02 movement were modular. Speculation on the delay of those pieces have been all over the place, and I am adding in this as a possibility as well. Maybe someone else thinks the 02 Carrera should be something else. The CH80 Carrera met a similar fate.

 

Report from Reuters today:

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-...d-biver-to-drop-operations-role-idUSKCN1M01HO

ZURICH (Reuters) - Jean-Claude Biver is dropping his operational responsibilities as the head of LVMH’s (LVMH.PA) watch division, he told Reuters over the phone on Thursday, confirming media reports.

“I am giving up my operational responsibilities, but I’m staying as non-executive president of LVMH’s watch unit and its three watch brands, TAG Heuer, Zenith and Hublot,” said Biver, 69.

“I’ll no longer be cutting the onions and crying in the kitchen early in the morning, I’ll just come later to see if they are ready,” said Biver, who has been suffering from serious health problems in recent months. He said he was doing better, but had not yet fully recovered.

Biver, one of the Swiss watch industry’s best-known and most successful managers, joined LVMH in 2008 when the Hublot brand he was leading at the time was acquired by the French group. He was appointed head of LVMH’s watch business in 2014.

LVMH’s watch and jewelry division had sales of 3.8 billion euros ($4.5 billion) in 2017, up 12 percent on a like-for-like basis, which strips out currency swings and acquisitions. Jewelry is being managed separately and is not part of Biver’s responsibilities.

Biver declined to comment on a media report published in French magazine Challenges on Wednesday that he would be replaced by Stephane Bianchi, a former CEO of French cosmetics group Yves Rocher.

Challenges also reported that Frederic Arnault, the 23-year-old son of LVMH’s Chairman and CEO Bernard Arnault, would take on more responsibilities at TAG Heuer, LVMH’s biggest watch brand, as head of strategy and digital.

LVMH - the world’s biggest luxury goods group, which is controlled by the Arnault family - declined to comment.

Frederic Arnault had already been working at Tag Heuer over the past year as head of connected technologies, dealing with its smartwatches.

 

Frédéric Arnault will now be Head of Strategy and Digital of the brand.

 

What a ridiculous job title, especially in a watch company!

 

One of many future roles that he'll have in LVMH while the Arnault family is at the helm.

 

He discusses his disagreement in the notion that TAG placed their name before a historic company like Heuer in this interview with Time & Tide, but also says "we are keeping the name Tag Heuer" and specified that re-editions like the Monza and Autavia will be branded "Heuer" given their heritage.

Start watching from about the 1:30 min mark: Anyone know the host in the video? He looks pretty cool.

https://timeandtidewatches.com/vide...nd-a-personal-apology-from-jean-claude-biver/

#BiverFerrari

 

Sorry to hear this, while I don’t like everything he has done, I think he has done the right thing for the future of the brand. Kinda partial to a Heuer-02 as well