Louis Ferla Takes on the Role of CEO at Cartier, While Catherine Rénier Moves to Van Cleef & Arples
Richemont has announced the internal appointment of two new CEOs: Louis Ferla, the current CEO of Vacheron Constantin, will take over as CEO of Cartier, while current Jaeger-LeCoultre CEO Catherine Rénier moves to Van Cleef & Arples.
Ferla will be taking over as the new CEO of Cartier effective September 1st. Cyrille Vigneron, the current CEO of Cartier, will retire and transition to the role of Chairman of Culture & Philanthropy.
In a statement, Group chairman Johann Rupert praised Ferla’s accomplishments, stating, “His experience and leadership qualities will prove invaluable for Cartier’s long-term success.” Rupert also acknowledged Vigneron’s contributions, noting that under his leadership, Cartier had reached “new heights becoming the reference in the world of luxury.” He thanked Vigneron for identifying the right person to succeed him.
Ferla, originally from France, joined Richemont in 2001. He started his journey with the company as the Area Sales Manager at Dunhill in Hong Kong and later became the General Manager in Taipei. Ferla moved to Cartier in 2006, assuming various senior executive roles across the Middle East, India, and Africa, before stepping into the role of CEO in China. His promotion to Cartier’s executive committee happened in 2015 as international director Clients and Business. Ferla has been serving as CEO of Vacheron Constantin since 2017.
Under Ferla’s leadership, Vacheron Constantin expanded its cultural partnerships. This included collaborations with the Louvre in 2019 and an agreement with the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 2023 for educational programs.
Meanwhile, in another significant leadership change within the luxury group, Catherine Rénier, the current CEO of Jaeger-LeCoultre, has been appointed as the new CEO of Van Cleef & Arpels, effective September 1. Following this transition, Rénier will report to the group’s overall CEO, once his appointment takes effect. Rénier brings over two decades of experience in the jewellery and luxury watchmaking industry at Richemont. Her journey with the group began in 1999 as Cartier North America’s Retail Development Director in New York. In 2003, she moved to Paris to join Van Cleef & Arpels as Deputy Marketing Manager.
Her career then took her to Hong Kong in 2008, where she served as the Maison’s Commercial Director. By 2011, she was appointed Managing Director for Hong Kong & Macau SAR, China, and subsequently became President for Asia Pacific, a role she held for eight years. Rénier has been the CEO of Jaeger-LeCoultre since 2018.
Reflecting on her tenure, Bos commented, “Her six years at the helm of Jaeger-LeCoultre saw her building a strong leadership team and a clear and differentiated positioning for the Maison, which has been foundational to its success during her tenure. Catherine brings the perfect mix of experience and leadership skills to the role.”
In the interim, Jaeger-LeCoultre CFO Philippe Hermann will take on the role of CEO until a permanent successor is named.