Actor and eco-fashion champion a position in a company running Gucci, Balenciaga, Saint Laurent, Bottega Veneta and Alexander McQueen.
Emma Watson, the actor and activist who made her name in the Harry Potter films as Hermione Granger, has joined the board of French fashion giant Kering in a major coup for the second-biggest luxury group in the world.
Based in London, the British beauty is the founder of the Good On You app that scores luxury labels for their ethical and environmental credentials. Watson is also renowned for her Green Carpet Project collaboration for Eco Era.
And though Kering is shown to have the environmental lead over his competitor LVMH, Good Over You just scored his top brands Gucci, Saint Laurent and Balenciaga “not good enough” or “it’s a start.”
Watson “one of the world’s most popular actors and best-known activists,” Kering said in a statement following the announcement of the 30-year-old, who is also a vocal spokesperson for women’s rights and a goodwill ambassador to the UN.
In addition to the longtime CEO of Credit Suisse Group Tidjane Thiam, born in Ivory Coast, and Jean Liu, the chairman of “the Chinese Uber” Didi Chuxing, she was appointed to the Board by shareholders at Kering’s AGM.
Having lost Stella McCartney to LVMH earlier this year – potentially the most multicultural luxury label in the world – hiring Watson is a gamble for Kering who needs to win over millennials.
The hires were announced by the Chairman and CEO of Kering, François-Henri Pinault, who is married to Hollywood actress and activist Salma Hayek.
“Their respective knowledge and competences, and the multiplicity of their backgrounds and perspectives will be invaluable additions,” he said.
At the end of 2019 the Kering company had over 38,000 staff worldwide. Its revenue last year stood at €15.9 billion ($17.9 billion), with a net income of €2.3 billion.
