Christophe Mélard Exits Mellerio

PARIS — Christophe Mélard is leaving his role as managing director of Mellerio, the family-owned jeweler announced Wednesday.

The executive, who joined the company in 2021, will exit the 413-year-old company at the end of January, “at the end of a five-year mission dedicated to repositioning and expanding the brand,” the company said.

“Under his direction, Mellerio has experienced a period of transformation bringing together heritage and modernity, reinforcing its profile in France and internationally,” it continued.

It described Mélard’s departure as arriving “at the end of a five-year mission dedicated to repositioning and expanding the brand.”

Among the projects that Mélard spearheaded was a repositioning of the brand that included developing the Les Muses collection and the Cabinet de Curiosités charms range.

Both account for half of the business.

Mellerio also stepped into the watch space, with the 2023 introduction of the M Cut ovoid design, and launched a perfume.

The brand’s implantation in the U.S. was also one of his priorities. Mellerio landed at Bergdorf Goodman in 2024 with signatures including the “Color Queen” gem-studded rings housed in a Goyard trunk and the charms.

The American market grew to a 25 percent share of the business in 2024, up from 2 percent in 2019 at Mélard’s arrival.

His replacement was not immediately named. “The transition will be managed in a spirit of continuity to continue the momentum initiated under his direction,” the house added.

Laure-Isabelle Mellerio, who is a member of the 14th generation of the jeweler and its artistic director, remains president of the family-owned company.

Expressing satisfaction at his five-year tenure that saw the business grow fourfold and expand internationally, Mélard said he would continue in advisory roles with the brands he is involved with. Among current projects are the international development of Zeus+Dione and he is strategic adviser for Pierre Hardy.

The executive, who previously headed brands like Sergio Rossi at luxury group Kering from 2005 to 2015 and Yves Saint Laurent Beauté, has worked as adviser for investment funds while being part of the founding team of brands such as Golden Goose, cashmere specialist Kujten and fine jewelry labels such as Yannis Sergakis.