Richemont makes three key appointments at board level

Luxury group Richemont has announced some key senior appointments and said Swen Grundmann is stepping onto its Senior Executive Committee (SEC).

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He joins the Chloé, Cartier and Dunhill owner in his new capacity as Director of Corporate Affairs in addition to maintaining his role as Group Company Secretary and will continue to report to company Chairman Johann Rupert.

He brings 27 years of experience to the role, primarily in the legal and corporate governance fields and started his career at Richemont in 1996, being appointed Group Company Secretary in 2017. 

Over the years, he’s been responsible for the corporate law affairs of the group and its subsidiaries and been involved in various merger and acquisition projects.

Meanwhile Boet Brinkgreve has been appointed to the newly created role of CEO of Laboratoire de Haute Parfumerie et Beauté, also reporting to Rupert.

His 30-year career has been primarily in the chemicals, fragrances and flavour industries spanning the US, China and Europe. He joins Richemont from DSM-Firmenich where he held a number of senior executive positions from 2007 to 2023, his latest role being President of Ingredients division & Group Procurement and a member of the executive committee. 

The company also announced that Gary Saage will be proposed for election to the board at the annual general meeting this month. If elected, he’ll become Chairman of its Audit Committee.

As a former CFO of the group and board member, he brings with him “invaluable knowledge of Richemont and relevant financial skills to perform this important role”. Plus he has “decades of experience in the luxury goods industry and a track record in financial discipline”.

He began his career in public accounting with Coopers & Lybrand. In 1988, he joined Cartier in the US, thereafter serving as COO of Richemont in North America and then of Dunhill in London. In 2006, he moved to Geneva to act as Group Deputy Finance Director and in 2010 was promoted CFO. He continued to serve as Chairman of Richemont North America and related companies until August 2023 in a non-executive capacity, overseeing governance matters.