The Timex Group B.V., one of the world’s leading watchmakers, named Hans-Kristian Hoejsgaard as its new president and chef executive officer on Dec. 5. He was previously the president and CEO of Georg Jensen, a luxury goods group, for several years. He’ll officially takes over leadership of Timex Group on Feb. 11, 2008.

Hoejsgaard replaces Santana, who had been president and CEO since 1999 and left, said the company, for “personal and family reasons.”

Prior to Georg Jensen, Hoejsgaard was president of Lancaster Group Worldwide, headquartered in Paris, a division of Coty Inc., and also worked for the luxury goods corporation, LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton.

Hoejsgaard said, it is “a pleasure and a privilege to be entrusted with leading one of the world’s largest watch companies, built on strong global brands and leading technologies.”

Anette Olsen, chairman of Timex Group, said the company looked forward to “growth and success in all segments of the watch business” under his leadership.

Timex Group is one of the top watch companies in the world. It has annual revenues of  approximately $700 million and over 6,000 employees worldwide. Its headquartered is in Middlebury, Conn., and is owned by a Dutch holding company.

Timex traces its origins to the Waterbury Clock Co., founded in 1854 in Connecticut, and has made timepieces for more than 150 years. Its companies (including Timex Corp., which produces the Timex–among them Ironman and Expedition, and TX brands–but not the Group’s other brands) manufacture and sell watches in many different market segments, including Valentino, Salvatore Ferragamo, Vincent Berard, Versace, Versus, Guess, Guess Collection, Marc Ecko and Nautica.

JCK