TAG Heuer retail man pinched for wearables division

By Jasper Hamill, 7 Jul 2014 Apple hasn't officially announced the arrival of its iWatch, but you don't have to be Nostradamus to see what's on its way.

Fanbois have now been given the the clearest indication so far that a wrist-borne computer is set to issue forth from Cupertino, following the hiring of a head honcho from Swiss watchmaker TAG Heuer.

 Patrick Pruniaux, TAG Heuer's sales and retail vice president, has jumped ship from the Swiss brand, which makes products aimed at secret agent/city banker/rich person types.

The news was revealed by Jean-Claude Biver, group head of LVMH, the Paris-based conglomerate which owns Tag Heuer.

He told CNBC: "If it had been a direct competitor, I would have felt a bit betrayed, but if he goes to Apple I think it is a great experience for him."

Mario Ortelli, senior luxury goods analyst at Bernstein, told CNBC he believed the fruity firm was trying cop some of that "Swiss made" reputation for quality. The analyst maintains that Swiss firms would be "diluting" their brands should they take a decision to work with the showy US manufacturer.

 

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