Just like his father, Arnault graduated from École Polytechnique, one of France’s most prestigious universities that’s known for producing top innovators and technological talents. His degree in computational and applied mathematics equipped him with an analytical eye that would serve him well in his career. As a student, Arnault began displaying early hints of his entrepreneurial acumen. While attending École Polytechnique, he co-founded a mobile payment startup which was acquired by a French investment firm just 18 months later.

Prior to joining Tag Heuer, Arnault interned at Facebook’s AI New York division, and with consulting firm McKinsey & Company. Arnault is also impressively multilingual—speaking English and French fluently, and Italian and German conversationally.

It was clear the Arnault was being groomed to one day take over Tag Heuer, the largest watch brand in LVMH’s portfolio. But that’s not to say his father went easy on him. Back in 2017, Arnault joined the company as the head of connected technologies. Bernard entrusted his son to the then-CEO Stéphane Bianchi, allegedly saying: “Report back when you think he’s ready [to lead the company]. And if you think he’ll never be ready, come back to me as well.”

It was far from an easy transition, with Arnault and Bianchi reportedly clashing often. However, the two later developed sincere mutual respect and friendship with each other. These days, Bianchi heads LVMH Watches and Jewellery, and remains one of Arnault’s biggest supporters. He once said this about the young CEO: “In the beginning, [Frederic] never felt any doubts. But he listens. Now he can admit when he is wrong.”

In 2018, Arnault was promoted to chief strategy and digital officer of Tag Heuer. Two years later, aged 25, he ascended to the company’s top position of CEO, marking the start of a new era at the esteemed watch maison.

Not long after joining the company, Arnault saw incredible potential at the nexus of traditional watchmaking and advanced technology. However, most industry leaders of that time were still purists, who believed classic craftsmanship need not be interfered with.

Despite the naysayers, Arnault recognised the growing demand for smartwatches and decided take the leap into the niche field. Under his leadership, the company introduced the Tag Heuer Connected, a luxury smartwatch that preserves the brand’s signature Swiss style while incorporating cutting-edge technology like fitness tracking, GPS, and customisable watch faces. The controversial move proved to be a strategic masterstroke that propelled this historic brand into the smartwatch market.

Arnault continues to push the boundaries of traditional watchmaking, with his eyes now set on the world of Web3. The Tag Heuer Connected series now features blockchain technology, connecting the device to crypto wallets, NFT portfolios, and more.

As one would expect from a young CEO, Arnault is particularly invested in connecting the Tag Heuer brand with the younger generation. He achieves this through the numerous collaborations with large brands like Porsche, creating limited edition timepieces that appeal to new groups beyond Tag Heuer’s traditionally older audience. Some notable examples are the Tag Heuer Carrera Porsche Chronograph, and the Tag Heuer Connected Super Mario Limited Edition.

In a similar vein, Arnault capitalised on the immense potential of celebrity endorsements that can boost a heritage brand’s visibility and appeal. One such standout moment was signing on Ryan Gosling as a brand ambassador—an unexpected move as the actor had no prior brand deals and limited social media presence. But this partnership proved to be a brilliant stroke that bridged the gap between Hollywood glamour and classic horology. It’s worth mentioning the iconic Tag Heuer watch scenes that featured in the blockbuster movie of the summer Barbie, in which Gosling starred alongside Margot Robbie.

Arnault is a vocal advocate for reducing the carbon footprint within Tag Heuer. Under his leadership, the brand has embarked on a suite of green initiatives, such as the Connected Watch Trade-In programme that encourages recycling. Instead of discarding old timepieces, thereby contributing to landfills, consumers are encouraged to return the watches in exchange for store credit that can be used for new purchases.

He’s also a strong proponent of the use of sustainable materials in watchmaking. The Monaco Green Dial watch features a strap made from recycled plastic; the new Carrera Plasma uses lab-grown diamonds; and the Aquaracer Professional 200 Solargraph is the first Tag Heuer model to be powered by a solar module that’s rechargeable by sunlight or artificial light.

Arnault recognised the shift in consumer behaviour towards online retail earlier than some other leaders in the industry. This foresight prompted him to invest heavily in the brand’s online presence. Beyond a redesign of the brand’s website, Tag Heuer made some big strides in the social media scene—it now has its own TikTok account and partners with TikTok influencers to promote the brand.

Under his leadership, Tag Heuer began implementing innovative concepts like virtual try-ons, use of augmented reality, and interactive product launches to make the heritage brand more accessible and engaging in the digital age. It’s important to note that these e-commerce advancements are carefully complemented with an equally strong boost in physical retail. Tag Heuer is gradually moving away from department stores, and heading towards boutiques in key markets that aim to forge a more direct relationship with its target audience.

Overseeing a large global company with close to 1,700 employees is hard work. For most of the week, Arnault spends his days at La Chaux-de-Fonds in France, which serves as Tag Heuer’s headquarters. He’s known to split his time between there and Paris, where LVMH is based. That’s on top of the constant travel required to engage meaningfully with business partners, brand ambassadors, and other luminaries.

When given the opportunity to relax and unwind, Arnault is known to dabble in piano, taking after his concert pianist mother. He’s also been spotted at Coachella, most recently at Blackpink’s show this year. Bernard and him often play chess together, and Arnault is an aficionado of several sports; namely skiing, running and tennis. 

Kyla Zhao is a Singaporean author and Gen.T honoree who writes books starring Asian characters in high society and the fashion industry. Her debut novel ‘The Fraud Squad’ was published this year by Penguin Random House, followed by her next novel ‘Valley Verified’.

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