Harry Potter Star Emma Watson Joins Board of Fashion Giant Kering

Emma Watson, the actress and activist who made her name Hermione Granger in "Harry Potter" movies, joined the French fashion giant Kering on Tuesday in a major coup for the second-largest luxury group in the world.

The British star, who was born in Paris, is the face of the Good On You app, which positions fashion brands on their ethical and sustainability abilities.

Although Kering is seen to have an environmental edge on its rival LVMH, its top labels Gucci, Saint Laurent and Balenciaga are only labeled "Not good enough" or "It's a start" by Good On You.

Saint Laurent was also in trouble with feminists and regulators over a 2017 "porno chic" advertising campaign that was condemned as degrading to women.

Watson “is one of the world’s most popular actors and best-known activists,” Kering said in a statement after on the appointment of the 30-year-old, a high-profile women’s rights advocate as well as a UN goodwill ambassador.

“Emma Watson is also a pioneer in advocating for sustainable fashion,” Kering added.

She was nominated onto the board alongside the Ivory Coast-born former CEO of Credit Suisse Group Tidjane Thiam and Jean Liu, the president of “the Chinese Uber” Didi Chuxing, by shareholders at Kering’s AGM.

– Millennial moral compass –

Since the end of the "Harry Potter" franchise in 2010, Watson has combined acting in movies such as "Little Women" with going back to university, championing reading groups and leading the UN campaign on gender equality.

She also coined the phrase "self-partnered" to describe her contentment as single.

Having lost Stella McCartney — arguably the world’s most ethnical luxury label — to LVMH earlier this year, recruiting Watson is a coup for Kering which is keen to win over millennials.

Watson is often seen as a moral compass for her generation.

Thiam, 57, resigned from his position at Credit Suisse in February following a scandal involving internal espionage of former executives of the bank, of which he said he had no knowledge.

“Throughout his career, Mr. Thiam has led organisations in both the private and public sectors, and has developed projects and programmes that stimulate businesses and economies,” Kering said.

The appointment of Jean Liu, 42, Chairman of the Mobile transport platform Didi Chuxing, indicates that China, a crucial market for Kering in terms of sales, will be represented on the Board for the first time, said Sophie L'Helias, lead Independent Director.

The appointment was welcomed by the president and CEO of Kering, Francois-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.

“The collective intelligence that comes from diverse points of view and the richness of different experiences are crucial to the future of our organisation.”

The Kering group employed more than 38,000 people worldwide at the end of 2019. Its turnover stood at 15.9 billion euros ($17.9 billion) last year, for a net profit of 2.3 billion euros.

Source: AFP