Roman Luxury Jewellery Brand Bulgari Announces Organizational Changes and New Promotions
The Roman jeweler Bulgari is strengthening its executive leadership with the promotion of Laura Burdese to the role of deputy chief executive officer, a new position within the organization.
Burdese, originally from Italy, is currently Bulgari’s vice president of marketing and communication, a role she has held since January 2022. She will take on additional responsibilities in her new capacity, managing the jewelry, watches, perfumes, and leather goods business whilst maintaining her former duties. Burdese will assume her new role on September 1 and will continue to report to CEO Jean-Christophe Babin.
Babin expressed his satisfaction with the promotion, stating in an internal statement, “I am very happy with Laura’s promotion and with Bulgari’s new organization which will allow us to further leverage on our brand platform while continuing to manage our resources in a more integrated, efficient and high-quality manner.” He praised Burdese’s “sharp business acumen coupled with product creativity,” highlighting her significant role in the brand’s strategic elevation since her induction.
Burdese, a graduate from the University of Trieste, began her career in the beauty industry with positions at Beiersdorf and L’Oréal and transitioned into watchmaking with the Swatch Group in 1999. Prior to joining LVMH in 2016, Burdese served as president and CEO of Calvin Klein Watch and Jewelry Co. Ltd from 2012. She was president and CEO of Acqua di Parma at LVMH before joining Bulgari in 2022.
Other changes within Bulgari, described as “part of an elevating and upgrading strategy” of the LVMH Watch division, are also planned for September 1. Ricardo Guadalupe, CEO of the watchmaking brand Hublot since 2012 and a managing director for eight years before that, will transition to an honorary president, a non-executive role. Julien Tornare, the CEO of Tag Heuer, will succeed Guadalupe.
Antoine Pin, currently the managing director of Bulgari’s watchmaking division, will replace Tornare as the CEO of Tag Heuer. The replacer of Pin at Bulgari is yet to be announced.
In praising the executives, Frédéric Arnault, CEO of the LVMH Watch division, commended Guadalupe’s 20-year tenure at Hublot and acknowledged Tornare’s tendency to bolster Hublot’s unique position among leading watch brands. He also highlighted Pin’s international experience, expertise, and watch passion.
Pin, an alumnus of HEC Paris business school, started his career at Tag Heuer in 1994. He worked as a junior sales manager for DFS and the Middle East, before transitioning to LVMH after its 1999 acquisition. Pin joined LVMH as international marketing director at Zenith in 2002 and has since held several management roles within the group before becoming the managing director of Bulgari’s watch business unit.