Watchfinder & Co., Richemont’s world pre-owned watch specialist, has appointed Arjen van de Vall as its CEO.
He takes over from co-founder Matt Bowling, who inherited the function of interim CEO after his fellow founder Stuart Hennell exited a 12 months in the past.
Mr Bowling stays energetic within the firm and can work alongside Mr van de Vall overseeing enterprise operations.
Mr van de Vall arrives from a seven 12 months stint at Rakuten, a Japanese e-commerce, fintech and digital content material and communications firm, the place he has been president for Europe for the previous 4 years.
“We are delighted to have Arjen come on board; he brings a wealth of digital experience into the group and, extra particularly, Watchfinder. Arjen’s worldwide expertise will likely be instrumental in guiding the continued evolution and enlargement of Watchfinder and additional untapping its great potential,” says Jérôme Lambert, Richemont CEO.
Since Richemont acquired Watchfinder in 2018, the corporate’s main focus has been on increasing internationally, significantly into the United States and continental Europe.
Mr van de Vall’s earlier function with Rakuten was based mostly in Berlin, and he was educated in The Netherlands.
He is now taking the reins at Watchfinder’s company headquarters in Maidenhead, Kent.
“I’m actually honoured to be becoming a member of Watchfinder & Co. Watchfinder is a transparent business chief that has led by instance over the past 19 years. It’s a very thrilling time to be becoming a member of the enterprise; Watchfinder is embarking on vital worldwide development in what has confirmed to be a quickly rising and evolving business” he says.
Along with e-commerce, Watchfinder now has bodily shops in London, Paris, Geneva, Munich, Hong Kong and New York.