Geneva, NY, 25th April, 2023 – The Watch & Jewellery Initiative 2030 (WJI 2030) announced today seven new Board Member appointments.

Since its foundation, the Watch & Jewellery Initiative has been working diligently on a  robust governance framework. Over the past  six months, the organisation has launched a rigorous multi-stakeholder consultation with members, non-members, civil society, the academic world, financial institutions, policy makers and various key industry and non-industry stakeholders.

The members of the Board of Directors, the governing body, are proven C-suite leaders who will guide the Executive Director and Management, to ensure the continued integrity of people and processes, oversee risk management, and position the initiative to deliver on its purpose.

Alongside current Board Members, and Board Co-Chairs, Cyrille Vigneron (President and CEO, Cartier) and Marie-Claire Daveu (Chief Sustainability & Institutional Affairs Officer, Kering), the seven new Board members will guide the WJI 2030 and ensure continued integrity in the way they operate.

WJI 2030 is pleased to welcome:

The WJI 2030 values the voice of civil society and is working on the appointment of another Board Member representing Civil Society, to be appointed soon.

Different advisory committees are now being populated, following a call for interest, with subject-matter experts to advise the Board. A CEO Forum has also been launched and the first edition will take place in Paris on the 13th of June – “CEO Leadership in the Age of Trust and Transparency.

Cyrille Vigneron, President and CEO, Cartier SA,  and Marie-Claire Daveu, Chief Sustainability & Institutional Affairs Officer, Kering, share: “We feel very privileged to have such an esteemed Board take on this role at such an exciting time for the global watch & jewellery industry — the needs of consumers, employees, regulators, and other stakeholders are changing rapidly. We have a huge responsibility and opportunity to act in an impactful  and innovative way, which will benefit all industry stakeholders and society at large.” 

Iris Van der Veken, Executive Director & Secretary General of the Watch & Jewellery Initiative 2023 adds, “This is another key milestone for us. I am honored to work together with this inspiring Board. The diverse make-up of our Board reflects the importance of its work. Its members have extensive industry expertise, policy track record, ESG global leadership , change and governance experience and knowledge of the current state of the industry. All of them bring a legacy of integrity and commitment to deliver measurable impact to the 2030 agenda.”

For more information on our Board Members, Governance Framework, and Governing Policies, please visit our Governance Page.

About the Watch & Jewellery Initiative 2030

Cartier, delegated by Richemont, and Kering launched the Watch & Jewellery Initiative 2030  driven by a common conviction that the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and aspirations for a sustainable industry can only be achieved through collaborative initiatives. The global initiative is open to all watch and jewellery players with a national or international footprint. It is committed to a common core of key sustainability goals in three areas: building climate resilience, preserving resources, and fostering inclusiveness. The association is based in Maison de La Paix in Geneva. For more information, visit our website www.wjinitiative2030.org

Press Contact

Emilie Van Landeghem
Corporate Office
emilie.vanlandeghem@wjinitiative2030.org

The Watch and Jewellery Initiative 2030 (WJI 2030) was officially established in Geneva, on April 1st 2022. When Kering and Cartier founded the Watch & Jewellery Initiative 2030 (WJI 2030), the ambition was clear: to bring together the global watch and jewellery industry to lead a sustainability transformation with positive and lasting impact in three areas: climate, nature and people. The confluence of recent crises has heightened the sense of urgency around advancing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the opportunity and responsibility for business to take a leading role – supported by an increasing number of regulations and growing stakeholder expectations.

A C-level panel took place to commemorate 1 year since the establishment of the Initiative. The panel titled If not now, when? If not us as an industry, who? was moderated by Iris Van der Veken, Executive Director & Secretary General, of the WJI 2030.

The following C-level panelists joined:

The panel discussed the urgency of accelerating the sustainability agenda in an ever-evolving regulatory and consumer landscape. Different drivers are accelerating transparency. The consumer is looking for trust and purpose, they want a company to demonstrate positive impact. Talent wants to work for a company that embraces true values and inclusion. As ESG regulations continue to evolve rapidly across multiple jurisdictions, corporations are navigating ever-more complex challenges around reporting.

Marie-Claire Daveu, Chief Sustainability and Institutional Affairs Officer at Kering shares “The WJI 2030 has accomplished several first achievements over the past year, and demonstrates how much we strongly believe in two key streams of action: partnership and multi-stakeholder consultation. Sustainability should not be a competitive field. We must work together if we want to transform the industry and make a true difference.”

Cyrille Vigneron, President & CEO, Cartier SA, further adds, “If you have good will, join us, and if you have good ideas, do and share, and they will benefit all.” 

Frédéric Grangié, the President of Chanel Watches & Jewellery, highlights that “For several years now, Chanel Watches & Fine Jewelry has had the ambition that its activities be ever more responsible, its sourcing ever more traceable, and benefit local stakeholders and ecosystems. We always believed that this task would require a strong collective and sectoral involvement, and we didn’t find any new initiative that seemed comprehensive and consistent with our own commitments before the Watch & Jewellery Initiative. The Initiative meets our ambitions to ensure that the sector has a positive impact on the planet and on people.”

Daniel Klier, CEO of ESG Book emphasizes that “Sustainability reporting has passed the point of ‘no return’ – driven by investors, consumers, employees and regulators. As such, regulators around the world have defined more than 3,000 different ESG standards and policy revisions. The watch and jewellery industry has a unique opportunity to take a leadership role – driven by ambitious leaders and powerful brands.”

Followed by Catharina Martinez Pardo, Partner at Boston Consulting Group, Catharina shares that “In climate there is still a small window to act – to succeed, it is instrumental to get the commitment of executives, to support brands in accelerating their actions as well as leveraging the collective power to unlock large scale impact and provide a platform to find collaborative solution to the challenging and controversial topics.”

Finally, in closing the high-level panel, Iris Van der Veken, Executive Director & Secretary General of the Watch & Jewellery Initiative 2030 acknowledges that “I think we all know there’s no planet B. We only have one Mother Earth, so we have a duty to care. And as we work and live in an industry of so much beauty and art, I always say we need to double care. I think we also agree that only together we can do it. We need measurable results. The time is now.”

The recent IPCC report is a signal of how critical it is to accelerate action. An update was given on the progress made till date. Today the WJI 2030 has 35 members and is fast advancing towards launching collaborative action projects around its three strategic pillars: building climate resilience, preserving resources and fostering inclusiveness.

WJI 2030 has just launched its first stakeholder report. Stakeholder feedback has already informed aspects of WJI 2030 governance such as the multi-stakeholder/NGO representation with voting rights on the Board, the necessity of an independent and external risk and compliance committee, the strong focus on establishing a rigorous ESG data framework, and the importance of working closely with suppliers on the ground. An external B Corp-certified legal counsel was appointed in October 2022 to ensure best practice in governance.

WJI 2030 is built on a collaborative model. Our partnerships with United Nations Global Compact on the Solutions Lab, UN Women on WEPs implementation, ESG Book on transparency reporting, and learning from other industries, such as our alignment with the Global Fashion Agenda, demonstrates our vision of an initiative that builds strength through the positive power of the collective.

Over the last six months, WJI 2030 has conducted an extensive multi-stakeholder consultation – specifically on our strategy, approach and governance – with various key industry stakeholders, including our members, partners, associations, experts, and the wider industry.

Collaborative leadership is key as no single organisation or sector has all the knowledge and resources that are needed to make real progress.

Multi-stakeholder consultation is a fundamental part of the WJI 2030, and we aim to embed this approach into all that we do. Over 80 organisations took part in this consultation that has surfaced clear priority issues with respect to governance, leadership, strategy and operations. We will continue the consultation in the coming months.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank all of those who have dedicated time to this consultation and provided their feedback and support.

In light of this, WJI 2030 is pleased to announce the release of the Stakeholder Report 2023, providing an update on the Initiative, key findings from the consultations, and an overview of the governance framework and priorities.

Get the Report:

16 March 2023 – Global Fashion Agenda (GFA) and the Watch & Jewellery Initiative 2030 (WJI 2030) have forged a new alliance, to unite iconic fashion, watch and jewellery brands in a bid to accelerate positive impact. Through the partnership, industry leaders will collaborate to tackle shared social and environmental challenges.

The alliance between the two organisations will be initiated at the Global Fashion Summit: Copenhagen Edition 2023, taking place on 27-28 June. Presented by GFA, Global Fashion Summit is widely renowned as the leading international forum for sustainability in fashion.

The theme of the forum is ‘Ambition to Action’ – presenting content experiences, case studies and strategic roundtable meetings focused on tangible impact. The Watch & Jewellery Initiative 2030 will focus on strategic topics including climate, biodiversity and gender equality.

Beyond the Summit in Copenhagen, the organisations will provide platforms to convene fashion, watch and jewellery executives around the world to stimulate pre-competitive knowledge exchange, stringent commitments and impactful programmes. 

Read the full press release here

The Watch and Jewellery Initiative 2030 was officially established in Geneva, on April 1st 2022 at the last edition of Watches and Wonders Geneva. WJI 2030 hosted a panel which commemorated the official establishment of the association, and therefore, it is fitting that we take this opportunity, one year later, at Watches & Wonders 2023 to commemorate 1 year of the association.

This year, at Watches & Wonders, WJI 2030 is delighted to host a high-level 30 minute panel, on the opening day of Watches & Wonders. Watches & Wonders will welcome nearly 50 brands, with most of the main players of the industry gathered to present their novelties during a week of wonders.

If you are at Watches & Wonders, please join us:

Monday 27th of March,
15:45-16:15 CET

If not now, when? If not us as an industry, who?

This CEO Panel is about shaping the sustainability agenda in an ever evolving regulatory and consumer landscape. Different drivers are accelerating transparency. The consumer is looking for trust and purpose, they want a company to demonstrate positive impact. Talent wants to work for a company that embraces true values and inclusion. How can one navigate itself in this ecosystem?

OUR PANELISTS:

In honour of International Women’s Day, Jaeger-LeCoultre announces their commitment to the WEPs and becomes a signatory.

Jaeger-LeCoultre CEO, Catherine Rénier, expresses their commitment to creating a positive culture that provides equal opportunity and fair treatment for all, building a legacy for future generations.

Watch the Video