Chanel Inc. has named Olivier Kessler-Gay general manager of watches and fine jewelry for the U.S., effective March 3.
He succeeds Emilie de Tramasure, who was appointed general manager of fragrance and beauty last September, as reported.
Olivier-Gay, who reports to Stéphane Blanchard, president of Chanel Inc., is expected to lead the long-term strategic vision for the division as it scales the watches and fine jewelry business in the U.S.
“I am confident that Olivier’s extensive experience equips him to navigate our complex landscape and drive the U.S. watches and fine jewelry division forward, in partnership with the U.S. leadership team,” Blanchard said.
“I’m very honored and grateful to be joining such an iconic and legendary brand, with a strong ambition, in one of the world’s leading markets,” Kessler-Gay said.
Kessler-Gay joins Chanel with more than 25 years of experience in high jewelry, luxury and apparel retail. Most recently he was general manager of Pandora for Western Europe (Spain, Portugal and France), where he helped reshape the company culture and raise brand awareness, doubling the size of the business.
Prior to Pandora, Kessler-Gay spent four years at VF Corp. As vice president and general manager of Europe, Middle East and Africa, he helped build and scale the company’s global brands — North Face, Vans, Timberland, etc. — through strategic positioning in the region.
Kessler-Gay spent the first half of his career at Cartier, taking on various roles in sales, marketing and merchandising over nearly 20 years. He was involved in market expansions across the Middle East, Africa, Russia and Eastern Europe before becoming managing director for Spain and Portugal. There, he helped transform the region into Cartier’s top-performing European market.
Last February, Chanel opened its first watches and jewelry flagship in the U.S. on Fifth Avenue, as reported. Created with longtime collaborator Peter Marino, the flagship at 730 Fifth Avenue was inspired by 18 Place Vendôme — also created with Marino — Chanel’s temple to watches and fine jewelry in Paris, which houses its creation studio. The stand-alone Manhattan boutique spans over two floors with 3,300 square feet of retail space.
At the time of the opening, Frédéric Grangié, president of watches and jewelry at Chanel, said that Chanel has had a very strong performance in the category, “doubling the business” in the U.S from 2019 to 2022.
Last week Chanel Inc. cut 70 U.S. jobs, representing about 2.5 percent of its U.S. workforce.
A Chanel spokesperson said in a statement, “To better adapt to the current economic challenges, Chanel Inc., after careful deliberation, has made the difficult decision to adjust its workforce. This challenging decision has been made following previous various steps to protect the business and limit spending.”
The company said it is committed to supporting those affected through various resources to help them transition. “While these changes are difficult, they are an essential step toward strengthening Chanel’s ability to thrive in a competitive and evolving market,” the spokesperson said.
“Chanel is a long-term business, and the U.S. remains a key market and an important part of the company’s long-term strategy. Chanel Inc. will continue to invest in its people and retail network to offer its clients an exceptional and exclusive experience,” the spokesperson said.
