Audemars Piguet: Rumours about the separation from CEO Ilaria Resta

Miss Tweed, an independent and advertising-free media organisation, is usually well informed about what goes on behind the scenes in the luxury goods industry.

Founder and Editor-in-Chief Astrid Wendlandt has now reported that Audemars Piguet will be parting ways with CEO Ilaria Resta after two years. She cites members of the industry who revealed this at the recently concluded Geneva Watch Days.

Audemars Piguet, however, immediately denied this rumour and told the online magazine professionalwatches.com that Ilaria Resta would remain CEO and that any speculation to the contrary was "unfounded". The Head of PR and Communications at the AP headquarters in Le Brassus explained:

"She will remain fully committed to leading Audemars Piguet into the next phase of growth, strengthening our culture, expanding our global presence and driving the continued success of the brand."

Miss Tweed nevertheless assumes that Ilaria Resat's days are numbered and writes: "Sources close to the company said that no one in the company had been officially informed of Resat's departure. The timing of her departure depends on how quickly a replacement is found."

About Ilaria Resta

The first female CEO of one of the top 10 Swiss watch brands took up her executive position at Audemars Piguet in August 2023, succeeding François-Henry Bennahmias, who had left big shoes to fill during his 30 years with AP - ten of them as CEO.

Ilaria Resta, who lives near Geneva, is Swiss-Italian with more than 26 years of international experience in building global brands, including as President of Global Perfumery & Ingredients and member of the management team at Firmenich, an internationally active Swiss flavour and fragrance manufacturer and number two in the industry worldwide.

During her more than 23 years at Procter & Gamble, she has also built brands such as Tide, Ariel, Fairy, Swiffer, Duracell, Pantene, Head & Shoulders, Herbal Essences and Aussie across Europe, the Middle East, China and North America.

Alessandro Bogliolo, CEO of Audemars Piguet, greeted Ilaria Resta with these words two years ago:

"As a visionary leader with a passion for craftsmanship, Ilaria will lead Audemars Piguet into the future as we continue to evolve our brand, combine tradition with innovation and strengthen our direct connection with our customers. Her proven track record of delivering results through clear strategic thinking based on deep consumer insights will keep AP's legacy relevant for generations to come and ensure long-term growth."