The Movado Group, a global leader in the luxury watch industry, has named Michelle Kennedy senior vice president, human resources, effective immediately, the Paramus-based company announced Monday.
In this role, Kennedy will be responsible for the company’s global human resources strategy and operations; talent management, including recruitment and leadership development; and compensation and benefits.
Kennedy comes to Movado from Williams-Sonoma, where she served as senior vice president of HR with a focus on talent organizational development, internal communications and retail operations for 12 years.
Prior to that, Kennedy spent six years at Ralph Lauren, where she rose to vice president of HR, followed by six years as vice president of HR at Christian Dior, where she led all HR functions for the U.S., Canada, Mexico and South America and supported Christian Dior’s expansion into the U.K.
Kennedy is succeeding Vivian D’Elia, who announced her retirement after nearly 30 years with the company.
Movado Group Chairman and CEO Efraim Grinberg prasied D’Elia for her service and applauded Kennedy’s hire.
“It has been a pleasure and a privilege to work so closely with Vivian for almost 30 years,” he said. “Vivian played a critical role in helping make Movado Group a truly global company and the organization we are all proud to be a part of today. We wish her the very best in her retirement.
“We are thrilled to have Michelle Kennedy join the Movado Group business, and I look forward to working with her and our business leaders as we continue to develop and grow the organization globally. Michelle’s experience, both domestically and internationally, will help continue to develop strategies that drive growth and the long-term success of the business with our people-first approach, dedication to talent and commitment to a thriving culture.”
Kennedy said she is looking forward to the role.
“It’s an honor to join Movado Group, a company with iconic, global brands and an incredibly rich history,” she said. “I look forward to working closely with Efraim and the entire Movado Group team as we continue to prioritize talent development and retention while building on our legacy of creating the best brands in the industry.”
