LONDON – Richemont has taken a further step in its succession strategy, naming Anton Rupert, son of the company’s founder, chairman and shareholder of reference Johann Rupert, as non-executive co-deputy chairman of the board.

The younger Rupert will take up the role with immediate effect and serve alongside Bram Schot, who was named non-executive co-deputy chairman in 2024. Following Richemont‘s annual general meeting this week, Richemont said the two deputy chairmen would have “complementary” remits.

Anton Rupert will oversee matters relating to the Richemont maisons’ strategic product and communications committee, “ensuring continuity in an area of central importance to the group’s creative and commercial direction.”

Schot will assume responsibility for board and committee-related governance matters, including the coordination of the board’s committees, and the group’s corporate governance framework.

Richemont said the new division of responsibilities “reflects the board’s commitment to robust governance, and to ensuring that both the group’s strategic priorities and its governance obligations receive dedicated attention” at non-executive, co-deputy chairman level.

Johann Rupert said his son’s appointment “is an important step in the board’s long-term succession planning. Richemont’s strength has always rested on the continuity that comes from close family involvement, on rigorous governance, and on an unwavering commitment to creativity and craftsmanship.”

He added that “having Anton and Bram serve together ensures each of these foundations is given the attention it deserves: Anton will continue to safeguard the creative and product priorities that define our maisons, while Bram will ensure that our governance remains of the highest standard. Together they reflect what has always guided this group – a long-term view, a respect for the people and savoir-faire behind our maisons, and the discipline to steward them responsibly for the generations to come.”

The appointment is the latest in a plan to position Richemont for the future.

The changes, driven by Johann Rupert, began two years ago when Richemont named Nicolas Bos, the longtime CEO of Van Cleef & Arpels, as CEO of Richemont. A cascade of CEO appointments followed with Louis Ferla named to the helm of Cartier, and Catherine Rénier heading Van Cleef & Arpels.

Rupert said he wanted to make the changes as a generation of top managers reaches retirement age.

In 2024, he said a management evolution was necessary because “people tend to stay a very long time, and we have loyalty up and down. Then, you suddenly get to a situation where you look at your senior executives and they’re roughly approaching retirement age. So we have to ask ourselves how to prepare for succession and how to ensure that smooth transitions take place.”