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TAG Heuer Sales Director Patrick Pruniaux Joins Apple in Run-Up to iWatch Launch [Updated]

MacRumors

MacRumors

macrumors bot
Original poster
Apr 12, 2001
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Apple appears to have made another important iWatch-related hire as the device's rumored debut approaches, with CNBC reporting that the company has poached the sales director of luxury watch brand TAG Heuer.

The hiring was revealed by Jean-Claude Biver, head of Jewelry and Watches at TAG Heuer's parent company LVMH. Biver had claimed earlier this year that Apple had been trying to hire some of his employees but at that point none of them had agreed to join Apple.
Biver said the watchmaker's sales director left as recently as last week, "to take a contract with Apple" in order to launch the iWatch. LVMH owns Swiss watchmakers TAG Heuer, Hublot and Zenith. [...]

Biver said he was happy for the employee as the new role represents a great opportunity for him.

"If it had been a direct competitor, I would have felt a bit betrayed, but if he goes to Apple I think it is a great experience for him," he said.
Click to expand...
ipod_nano_watch.jpg
Sixth-generation iPod nano in watch mode​

With Apple reportedly looking toward an October introduction for the iWatch, the company is building a formidable team with experience in the fashion industry.

At the top of that list is new retail chief Angela Ahrendts, who officially joined the company two months ago from Burberry. In another high-profile move, Apple last year hired Paul Deneve, CEO of French luxury label Yves Saint Laurent. Deneve reports directly to Apple CEO Tim Cook and is working on "special projects" for the company, with most speculation centering around the iWatch.

Update: TAG Heuer confirmed to MacRumors that Patrick Pruniaux is the employee who left for Apple. Pruniaux's former position was Vice President Global Sales & Retail.

Article Link: TAG Heuer Sales Director Patrick Pruniaux Joins Apple in Run-Up to iWatch Launch [Updated]
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2014/07/04/tag-heuer-sales-director-apple-iwatch/
Last edited:
Appl3FTW

Appl3FTW

macrumors 603
Nov 15, 2012
5,552
1,252
The iWatch team is like the avengers of fashion industry... Wow they're going all in. Iwatch will be massive
 
G

Geminist

macrumors member
Jan 6, 2012
88
3
Biver said the watchmaker's sales director left as recently as last week, "to take a contract with Apple" in order to launch the iWatch. LVMH owns Swiss watchmakers TAG Heuer, Hublot and Zenith

Does it mean Biver just confirmed Apple is launching an iWatch?
 
CalMin

CalMin

Contributor
Nov 8, 2007
1,661
2,835
Tag Heuer, Burberry...

This iWatch thing is going to be pricey everyone.
 
KindredMAC

KindredMAC

macrumors 6502a
Sep 23, 2003
975
218
"If it had been a direct competitor, I would have felt a bit betrayed, but if he goes to Apple I think it is a great experience for him," he said.
Click to expand...

How is it that people still misunderstand the fact that when Apple aims at a new product segment, they ARE the competition and usually take over that segment?!?!?

This just shows how out of touch this hiring manager was that said this.
 
J

jonAppleSeed

macrumors regular
Mar 21, 2013
200
0
iBlazed said:
It would be hilarious if the iWatch was a huge trolling campaign by Apple and they're actually not planning on releasing anything remotely similar.
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It would be hilarious if someone didn't bring this up every time there is an iWatch rumour article.
 
mcdspncr

mcdspncr

macrumors regular
Jul 2, 2011
160
200
It really seems like Apple understands that the iWatch will have to be equal parts technology, medical, and jewlery to become the next blockbuster. Looking forward to see if they found the sweetspot!
 
C

cdmoore74

macrumors 68020
Jun 24, 2010
2,413
711
Appl3FTW said:
The iWatch team is like the avengers of fashion industry... Wow they're going all in. Iwatch will be massive
Click to expand...

It's going to be massive; massive in price that is. The common iPhone customer won't be able to afford/justify it.
 
Rogifan

Rogifan

macrumors Penryn
Nov 14, 2011
24,144
31,199
KindredMAC said:
How is it that people still misunderstand the fact that when Apple aims at a new product segment, they ARE the competition and usually take over that segment?!?!?

This just shows how out of touch this hiring manager was that said this.
Click to expand...

Lol to anyone who thinks Apple or wearables will take over the luxury watch segment.

----------
cdmoore74 said:
It's going to be massive; massive in price that is. The common iPhone customer won't be able to afford/justify it.
Click to expand...

We don't know that, but I think it's safe to say it won't be a clone of the current crop of smart watches (i.e. notifications on your wrist).
 
NutsNGum

NutsNGum

macrumors 68030
Jul 30, 2010
2,856
367
Glasgow, Scotland
cdmoore74 said:
It's going to be massive; massive in price that is. The common iPhone customer won't be able to afford/justify it.
Click to expand...

Not a chance, Apple is not a pure luxury brand. Even if there is an incredibly high-end version, there will be 'affordable' models also, that's beyond doubt. You don't get a 600 billion dollar market cap by charging £2000 for a fitness band/watch.
 
T

thasan

macrumors 65816
Oct 19, 2007
1,104
1,031
Germany
NutsNGum said:
Not a chance, Apple is not a pure luxury brand. There will be affordable models, that's beyond doubt. You don't get 800 million in the bank by charging £2000 for a fitness watch.
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the anal-yst in me says it will be around 300- 2000 USD :p

joking aside, i think it will be around 600-800 USD :(
 
V

Ventilatedbrain

macrumors regular
Nov 22, 2012
201
68
KindredMAC said:
How is it that people still misunderstand the fact that when Apple aims at a new product segment, they ARE the competition and usually take over that segment?!?!?

This just shows how out of touch this hiring manager was that said this.
Click to expand...

I'm not sure if you're familiar with TAG, but trust me on this, NOONE is going to be torn in choosing between the 2. Completely different ball game , target audience, price point and features :)
 
gnasher729

gnasher729

Suspended
Nov 25, 2005
17,980
5,565
Geminist said:
Biver said the watchmaker's sales director left as recently as last week, "to take a contract with Apple" in order to launch the iWatch. LVMH owns Swiss watchmakers TAG Heuer, Hublot and Zenith

Does it mean Biver just confirmed Apple is launching an iWatch?
Click to expand...

You never know how much someone (Biver) said and how much the reporter filled out from his own assumptions. Most reporters nowadays cannot be trusted. On the other hand, it could have been Biver making an assumption why Apple wants to hire their sales director. That sale director might be responsible for improving iPod sales, for all we know.
 
H

hipnetic

macrumors 65816
Oct 5, 2010
1,266
562
I actually wouldn't have been surprised to find out that Apple had no plans whatsoever of releasing a watch, but this news certainly seems to increase the certainty of an iWatch actually happening.
 
I

iOSaddict

macrumors regular
Jun 3, 2014
198
0
All of these hirings and no-one still knows what the product is gonna look like. It really showed that Tim Cook really doubled down on secrecy this time around.
 
Rogifan

Rogifan

macrumors Penryn
Nov 14, 2011
24,144
31,199
gnasher729 said:
You never know how much someone (Biver) said and how much the reporter filled out from his own assumptions. Most reporters nowadays cannot be trusted. On the other hand, it could have been Biver making an assumption why Apple wants to hire their sales director. That sale director might be responsible for improving iPod sales, for all we know.
Click to expand...

Yeah because Apple would hire a sales director from a luxury Swiss watch maker to market iPods. Um, no.

Perhaps Apple is looking at the wearables space and thinking young people don't wear stuff on their wrist so their target market will be baby boomers (and maybe some Gen X'ers) with disposable income.
 
H

Henriok

macrumors regular
Feb 19, 2002
226
14
Gothenburg, Sweden
Geminist said:
Biver said the watchmaker's sales director left as recently as last week, "to take a contract with Apple" in order to launch the iWatch. LVMH owns Swiss watchmakers TAG Heuer, Hublot and Zenith

Does it mean Biver just confirmed Apple is launching an iWatch?
Click to expand...
No.
1. The quote could be misinterpeted by the journalist. Journalists and publications are driven by their own narrative, not seldom perpendicular to the truth.
2. What does Biver really know? We have no idea.
3. Did his former employee reveal information correctly? Why would he, really?
4. Did Apple reveal correct information to their new employee? I'm not entirely sure that Apple needs to reveal information is such detail as to convince people to join them.

What's confirmed is that some journalist thinks something about another guy that thinks something about a third guy that thinks something about Apple. No it's not confirmed.
 
C

Crzyrio

macrumors 68000
Jul 6, 2010
1,587
1,110
goobot said:
The iPod touch is 200$ what makes you think it will cost more than that when It will have LESS hardware?
Click to expand...

Less hardware but more engineering time spent on it.

The iPod Touch is just a stripped down iPhone, vastly reducing the amount of time spent on it.
 
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