2 December 2025
Watch & Jewellery Initiative 2030 – Leadership Forum, Paris | 2 December 2025
The 2025 Leadership Forum of the Watch & Jewellery Initiative 2030 (WJI 2030) gathered senior leaders, experts, and industry stakeholders in Paris for a day of strategic dialogue focused on responsible business, global dynamics, and the future of sustainability in the watch and jewellery sector.
The forum opened with an inspiring keynote by Mr. Jean-Pierre Raffarin, Former Prime Minister of France and President of the Prospective & Innovation Foundation. He underlined the importance of authentic leadership and identified three elements for navigating today’s complex world: respect, cooperation, and coherence between thought and action.
The programme continued with an update on WJI 2030’s ongoing progress, followed by a keynote from Cyrille Vigneron, whose reflections framed the discussions that followed. Emphasising the need for collective action, he highlighted that in addressing shared global challenges, “trust is the new currency”, underscoring the necessity of coalitions built on purpose.
Attention then shifted to global economic context with an intervention from Keyu Jin (Non-Executive Director at Richemont, Professor of Economics, and Author). Offering a distinctive lens on China’s evolving role in the world, she spoke about the country’s technological ambitions, shifting economic strategy, and the rise of a new generation with changing values – all while noting the continued resilience of globalisation.
Sustainability expert Georg Kell reminded participants that sustainability is not a passing trend but a structural force reshaping the market. He pointed to nature’s non-negotiable boundaries, growing economic signals such as pressure on insurance markets and increasing volatility, and stressed the critical need for peace, cooperation, and responsible use of technology and AI.
Industry dynamics were further explored by Rajiv Mehta, who examined how companies across the watch and jewellery sector are navigating turbulence – balancing local and global priorities, adapting across the value chain, and advancing traceability through collaboration.
A fireside chat brought together Marianne Zani (Chanel Watches & Fine Jewellery), John Mulligan (World Gold Council), Marie-Claire Daveu (Kering and WJI 2030 Co-Chair), and Sue Allchurch (United Nations Global Compact). Their discussion highlighted the importance of a long-term vision, shared priorities, and commitments that align short-term actions with long-term impact. Science-based approaches and collaboration were reaffirmed as essential anchors for meaningful progress.
The final session focused on nature and resilience, with expert insights from Stuart Orr and Rachel Kolbe Semhoun on the strategic role of water in ensuring future business stability and resilience.
The event concluded with acknowledgements to the teams from Cartier, Kering and CHANEL, and to the WJI 2030 Board members for their strategic guidance, as well as the Chairs of the three action tracks: John Mulligan (Climate Resilience), Noora Jamsheer (Nature & Biodiversity), and Marianne Zani (Inclusiveness).
The Leadership Forum brought together a diverse community committed to shaping a more responsible and resilient future for the industry – guided by science, strengthened by trust, and driven by collective action.
