Richemont North American CEO to retire Oct. 31

William George Shuster, JCK Senior Editor -- JCK-Jewelers Circular Keystone, 10/18/2006 9:47:00 AM

Callum Barton, president and chief executive officer of Richemont North America Inc., will retire Oct. 31, capping a 31-year career with the company. However, he'll continue as a "special consultant" for three years to parent Richemont SA, the Swiss luxury goods group announced Oct. 17. Barton will also step down as a member of the board of directors of Richemont SA, the Group's management board.

Hewill be replaced by Daniel Mawicke, currently Richemont North America's chief operating officer.

"It has been an enormous privilege to have participated in the extraordinary growth of Richemont's luxury businesses over the last years," Barton said "and to have worked for and with such a talented group of people."

Barton joined the Group in 1975 in Paris as part of the original "les Must de Cartier" team. During his career with the company, he has held senior management positions at the functional, brand and regional levels. Johann Rupert, Richemont SA's executive chairman, called Barton "an integral part of the original Cartier management team" and noted he made "a substantial contribution to the development of Richemont" and was "a wonderful ambassador" for its various divisions during his 30 years with the company.

Mawicke joined the Group in 1994, after having worked for Coopers and Lybrand in the United Stated and in Switzerland. He was appointed chief financial officer of Richemont North America in 1999, and became chief operating officer in 2003.

Richemont is one of the world's leading luxury groups. Its portfolio includes Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels; Jaeger-LeCoultre, Piaget, IWC, Baume & Mercier, Vacheron Constantin, Officine Panerai, A. Lange & Söhne, Montblanc, Montegrappa, Alfred Dunhill and Lancel. In addition, Richemont holds an 18.8 per cent interest in British American Tobacco.