Editor’s Note
This article outlines a planned leadership transition at Bulgari, with Laura Burdese set to become Managing Director in 2026. It highlights the strategic succession planning within the LVMH group.
Luxury conglomerate LVMH announced on Thursday the appointment of Laura Burdese as the Managing Director of the Italian jewelry brand Bulgari, effective July 1, 2026.
Burdese, 54, who has served as Deputy Managing Director since July 2024, will succeed Jean-Christophe Babin. Babin will remain Chairman of the Board of Directors at Bulgari, “while continuing to serve as CEO of Bulgari hotels and president of the Bulgari foundation,” according to a company statement. Burdese will report to Stéphane Bianchi, Deputy Managing Director of LVMH and CEO of LVMH Watches and Jewellery.
Burdese joined LVMH in 2016 as CEO of the Italian fragrance brand Acqua di Parma. She then joined Bulgari in 2022 as Vice President of Marketing and Communications, before becoming Deputy Managing Director. Prior to LVMH, she worked at Beiersdorf, L’Oréal and Swatch.
In the first nine months of 2025, LVMH’s Watches and Jewellery division, which includes Bulgari, Tiffany, Tag Heuer and Chaumet, reported a 2 percent decline in revenue to 7.4 billion euros.