François-Henri Bennahmias was born in 1964 in Paris and began his career in professional sports, ranking as number 25 on the French golf tour in the 80s. He then transitioned to the fashion industry, working with brands such as Giorgio Armani, Gianfranco Ferré, Les Copains, Reporter, Peter Hadley, and Vilebrequin. In 1994, he started his career at Audemars Piguet in France, quickly rising to lead operations in Singapore and later taking on responsibilities in Germany, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, Brunei, Australia, and Malaysia.
In 1999, François-Henri became President and CEO of Audemars Piguet North America Inc., advising on the development of the South American market, including Mexico and the Caribbean. He played a key role in establishing flagship boutiques in New York City and Miami. In May 2012, he returned to Switzerland as global Chief Executive Officer ad Interim of Audemars Piguet, officially becoming CEO in January 2013. Under his leadership, the company focused on long-term qualitative growth and human connections, evolving from wholesale to retail to forge closer relationships with clients.
François-Henri led the development of the AP House concept and the “Nomad” salesforce, enhancing client service. He oversaw the Musée Atelier Audemars Piguet project and the construction of the Hotel des Horlogers. He launched the Code 11.59 watch collection in 2019, marking a new chapter in the company’s history. He also spearheaded a collaboration with Marvel comics for limited editions within the Royal Oak Concept collection, starting with Black Panther in 2021.