Audemars Piguet Officially Appoints Ilaria Resta As Its New CEO

After an extensive global search — and rather big shoes to fill — Audemars Piguet officially announced that Swiss-Italian national Ilaria Resta will join the company in August 2023. Resta will replace long-time CEO François-Henry Bennahmias, who has been at the brand’s helm for almost three decades. There will be a minor transition period as Bennahmias will officially step down at the end of 2023, with Resta fully assuming the role on January 1st, 2024.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Audemars Piguet

While there are already industry predictions and hypotheses, watch connoisseurs cannot wait to see what Resta will bring to the esteemed brand. She brings over 26 years of international experience in leading major divisions of incredibly respected companies, recently serving as President of Global Perfumery & Ingredients at Firmenich. Resta has spent her career building iconic global brands, and now she pivots to Audemars Piguet, a brand steeped in history and innovation.

For Audemars Piguet, this marks an exciting new chapter. “We are delighted to welcome Ms. Resta as our new Chief Executive Officer. A visionary leader with a passion for craftsmanship, Resta will take Audemars Piguet into the future as we continue to develop our brand, blend tradition with innovation, and strengthen our direct connection to clients. Her proven record of delivering results through a clear strategic thinking based on deep consumer insights will keep AP’s legacy relevant for generations to come and ensure long-lasting growth,” notes Alessandro Bogliolo, Chairman of Audemars Piguet.

“Resta’s belief in the empowerment of teams and her accomplishments as an inspirational leader in corporate sustainability fully align with Audemars Piguet’s long-standing values as an independent family-owned company. On behalf of the Board of Directors, we would like to thank Bennahmias for his three decades of service. His transformational leadership has been essential in building the success story AP is today. We are grateful for his indelible contribution and his commitment to stay until the end of the year to ensure a smooth transition,” Bogliolo adds.

As they say, ‘when one door closes, another one opens,’ and all eyes are on January 1st, 2024.