De Beers Group announced that Céline Assimon (pictured) will succeed François Delage as CEO of De Beers Jewellers on Sept. 1.
Delage has led the retail chain since 2009, after serving as the head of De Beers’ Forevemark brand.
Assimon’s background includes serving as worldwide head of high jewelry and high watchmaking sales at Louis Vuitton and then as Piaget’s director of high jewelry and exceptional pieces.
Most recently, Assimon was CEO for luxury brand de Grisogono, from December 2018 until that brand dissolved earlier this year.
Assimon, a GIA graduate, holds a master’s degree from Audencia Nantes, the French business school. She speaks English, French, Italian, and Spanish.
Delage will remain with the company until Sept. 30. The overlap will “ensure a seamless transition of leadership,” the company said.
De Beers veteran Stephen Lussier remains chairman of the brand.
The De Beers retail chain, which lately has been focused mostly on China, was first launched in 2001 as a joint venture with luxury conglomerate LVMH. In 2017, De Beers bought out LVMH’s share, so that it now owns the retailer outright.
(Image courtesy of De Beers)
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