Tasaki Holdings, the Kobe, Japan-based company behind the Japanese jewelry brand Tasaki, unveiled a sweeping management reshuffle.

Richard Collasse, who long led Chanel’s Japan operations, has been appointed director, representative executive officer and global chief executive officer. Juichi Tajima, previously representative executive officer and CEO, will transition to the role of chairman without representative authority.

Kentaro Odagiri, currently representative director and CEO of Ferragamo Japan through March 31, will assume the role of representative director and CEO of Tasaki ― overseeing the brand’s business in Japan ― effective April 1. Meanwhile, the China business, operated by Tasaki (Shanghai) Commercial Co. Ltd., will be led by Matthew Bai.

Collasse, born in 1953 in the Aude region of France, graduated from the University of Paris’ Institute of Oriental Languages in 1975. After working in the protocol office at the French Embassy in Japan, he joined Givenchy in 1979. When the company established its Japanese subsidiary in 1981, he was appointed representative director.

He joined Chanel in 1985 and later became managing director of Chanel Hong Kong in 1993. In 1995, he was named president of Chanel’s Japanese subsidiary, a position he held until 2018, when he became chairman. Over the decades, he played a pivotal role in shaping the brand’s strategy and driving its growth in the Japanese market. He currently also serves as an outside director of Aeon.

At Tasaki Holdings, Collasse will oversee global brand and growth strategies, with a mandate to accelerate the international expansion of the Japan-born luxury brand.

“While paying deep respect to the achievements and spirit of my predecessor, I hope to bring new momentum to Tasaki with humility, embodying the refined Japanese aesthetic the brand represents and listening closely to every member of the organization,” Collasse said. “I will devote my full efforts to ensuring that Tasaki shines with the international stature it deserves in the global luxury industry.”

Odagiri, who will lead the company’s Japan business, began his career at Isetan before moving to Barneys New York. In 1999 he helped establish Estnation, a high-end Japanese specialty store. He later joined Gap Japan in 2006, where he oversaw Banana Republic, and in 2009 became president and CEO of Celine Japan. In 2017 he was appointed president and representative director of Burberry Japan, and since 2022 he has served as president and representative director of Ferragamo Japan. Across these roles, he has led brand strategy and strengthened retail operations in the Japanese market. At Tasaki, he will oversee all aspects of domestic operations while advancing customer experience and reinforcing the company’s business foundation.

Bai, Asia ex-Japan CEO and head of Tasaki (Shanghai) Commercial Co. Ltd., previously led the brand’s growth in China as general manager and managing director of Qeelin, the Kering-owned jewelry brand, beginning in 2020. At Tasaki, he will oversee business strategy and organizational management across Asia outside Japan, driving sustainable, high-quality growth throughout the region.

Tajima said the company’s overarching vision is “to cultivate Tasaki into a Japanese-born luxury jeweler recognized and respected across the world’s major markets.”

“It gives me immense pleasure to pass the baton of representative executive officer and CEO to Richard Collasse, a longtime acquaintance in the luxury industry and a worthy rival,” Tajima said. “I am confident that his deep experience and extensive network in the luxury sector will undoubtedly help realize Tasaki’s vision.” Tajima will continue to support the brand from a long-term strategic perspective, ensuring continuity in its direction.

Last year marked Tasaki’s 70th anniversary. The brand’s pearl- and diamond-centered jewelry has gained popularity for its distinctive designs, including collaborations with fashion designers such as Thakoon Panichgul and Prabal Gurung.

In November 2024, Tasaki was acquired for roughly 100 billion yen by Asian investment firm FountainVest Partners and Japanese private equity firm Unison Capital.