PARIS (FRANCE) – British actress Emma Watson, famed for essaying the role of Hermione in the Harry Potter film series, and former Credit Suisse boss Tidjane Thiam are slated to join the board of French luxury group Kering as it pushes to raise its profile in areas such as sustainability.
Kering, which is behind top fashion brands like Italy’s Gucci, said that Watson would chair the board’s sustainability committee, which focusses on environmental matters.
Watson, 30, is also known as a champion of women’s rights and is a United Nations Women Goodwill Ambassador.
Kering said shareholders had also approved Thiam’s appointment. He quit as Credit Suisse chief executive in February following a spying scandal and revelations that the bank had snooped on former executives.
Thiam, who previously ran insurer Prudential, had said he knew nothing of these activities. He undertook cost cuts and a restructuring at Credit Suisse which were credited with helping the bank return to profit.
He will chair Kering’s Audit Committee, the company said.
Jean Liu, president of China’s biggest ride-hailing company Didi Chuxing, will also join Kering’s board, the group added.
Kering, which also owns Saint Laurent and Balenciaga, has like peers been hit hard by the pandemic, which forced the closure of many stores across the world.
Ongoing curbs on international travel are likely to weigh on the sector for months to come, especially in shopping havens like Paris. Chinese customers account for over a third of global luxury goods sales, and many usually shop overseas.
(Photos syndicated via Reuters)
This story has been edited by BH staff and is published from a syndicated field