Swatch Group Appoint Nayla Hayek CEO at Harry Winston

Luxury conglomerate Swatch Group have announced the appointment of Nayla Hayek to the post of CEO at Harry Winston. Hayek, who is the Chairwoman of The Swatch Group Ltd, took responsibility of Harry Winston as of May 9.

The Harry Winston Diamond Corporation announced the sale of their luxury brand segment to the Bienne, Switzerland-based Swatch Group at the start of the year. The acquisition, which cleared the required regulatory approvals this March, cost the Swatch Group US$750,000,000. (The transaction did not include the mining activities of the Harry Winston Diamond Corporation.) Since the purchase was completed, the Swatch Group has undertaken a revamp of Harry Winston’s structure, taking control of all activities related to jewelry and watches, including Harry Winston’s 535 employees worldwide and its production company in Geneva.

Hayek had already been nominated Chairwoman of Harry Winston, Inc. when the company was acquired by Swatch Group in March 2013. The Swatch Group owns a number of luxury watch brands, including Breguet, Blancpain, Glashütte Original, Jaquet Droz, Omega and Longines.

Nayla Hayek, at left, is pictured above with HRH Princess Haya of Jordan. Photo by Sandro Campardo /Getty Images, courtesy Longines.