Nataf is New Zenith President

By William George Shuster, Senior Editor -- JCK Online, 1/1/2002 2:00:00 AM

LVMH has appointed Thierry Nataf president of Zenith, a Swiss producer of watches and watch movements, effective Jan. 1, 2002. Nataf was previously the company's chief executive officer.

Nataf replaces François Manfredini, who has moved up to become vice president of watch movements for LVMH. He will be in charge of coordinating the watch movements strategy of all LVMH brands and will represent LVMH in Swiss and international trade organizations.

Zenith was acquired by LVMH in 1999 and is part of its watch and jewelry division. Founded in 1865, Zenith is one of the few watch manufacturers that still design and produce their own precision mechanical movements. Among its best-known mechanical movements are the El Primero integrated automatic chronograph movement and the Elite movement, voted "Best Mechanical Movement" by the international trade press in 1995. The company produces some 50,000 timepieces per year.