De Grisogono Hires Piaget Exec as CEO

RAPAPORT… De Grisogono has appointed Céline Assimon as CEO, tasking
her with international brand development and product expansion.



Assimon will succeed John Leitao, who has been with the Swiss
luxury jeweler since May 2013. She was previously the director of high jewelry
and exceptional pieces at Piaget, and worldwide head of jewelry and watch sales
at Louis Vuitton.


“With [Céline’s] exceptional business track record, broad
experience of the jewelry market and global luxury brands, she is the ideal
person to lead the company on the next stage of its journey to becoming a
global luxury brand,” Elmar Wiederin, chairman of the board, said last week.


De Grisogono has been reorganizing its jewelry offering
since disappointing sales forced the company to lay off 28 workers at its Swiss
headquarters, as well as 10 workers in other locations, in May. At the time, the
company said it intended to focus primarily on its more affordable fine-jewelry
and watch brands, as well as broaden its daywear range.

Image: Céline Assimon. (De Grisogono)