Swiss watchmaker Audemars Piguet announced on Monday the appointment of Ilaria Resta to the role of chief executive officer, effective January 1, 2024.
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Resta, who joins Audemars Piguet in August, will replace long-standing CEO François-Henry Bennahmias who previously announced his departure after 30 years at the luxury company. Bennahmias will remain with the company until the end of 2023 to ensure a smooth leadership transition.
With some 26 years of experience working in overseas markets in various leadership positions for leading companies, Resta comes to Audemars Piguet from Firmenich, where she served as president, global perfumery and ingredients. Before this, she worked for Procter & Gamble for more than two decades, across different leadership posts in the company’s European and American headquarters, where she managed several brands at an international level.
“We are delighted to welcome Ms. Resta as our new CEO. A visionary leader with a passion for craftsmanship, Ilaria will lead Audemars Piguet into the future as we continue to develop our brand, merge tradition and innovation, and strengthen our direct connection with our customers. Ilaria’s customer-focused strategic thinking has yielded excellent results to date, and applied to Audemars Piguet, will ensure sustainable long-term growth while ensuring that the brand remains relevant for future generations. Ilaria’s focus on people and her success as a leader in sustainability are fully in line with Audemars Piguet’s long-standing values as an independent family business,” said Alessandro Bogliolo, president, Audemars Piguet.
“On behalf of the board of directors, we would like to warmly thank François for his three decades of service. His leadership has been essential in transforming the company and building the success story that is AP today. We are grateful for his indelible contribution and his commitment to stay with us through the end of the year to ensure a smooth and orderly transition,” added Bogliolo.