After working his magic at Hublot and TAG Heuer, Jean-Claude Biver is turning his attention to Zenith. All three companies are part of the LVMH Group, where Biver is President of the Watches Division.

“I am writing to inform you of the departure of Aldo Magada from his position as CEO & President of Zenith. This decision was taken by mutual agreement.” Magada had held the post since July 2014. And so who replaces him? Jean-Claude provides the answer. “I am personally taking over interim management. I want to be more involved and to create greater synergies between the group’s three brands. I’ll be working with the teams to give this brand the lustre it deserves.”

What will be the new direction for Zenith? Where will it find the lustre? Both Hublot and TAG Heuer are about innovation, in different price sectors. What Zenith possesses is one of the finest chronograph movements of all time, El Primero running at 36,000 vibrations per hour, and a solid heritage of aviation watches. And in the pilot’s watch genre, there is lots of room. Montblanc has already noticed it with its latest releases in its 1858 collection. Likewise Patek Philippe, and Glashütte Original. What Zenith has is some real tradition, and big cases. Can’t wait to see what Zenith will be presenting at Baselworld 2018.

The Zenith Pilot Type 20 Extra Special (right) compared to the pilot’s watch that Zenith made for Louis Blériot in 1909

P.S. why the bovine photo? Because Jean-Claude Biver also makes excellent cheese…