Bedat possibly quitting Gucci

Rumour has it that Christian Bedat, chief executive and creative director of the same-name firm he created with his mother, is leaving Gucci Group. Bedat, who founded Bedat & Co. in 1996 and has recently also designed watches for Gucci and Boucheron, is said to disagree with the development of his firm under Gucci leadership. According to WWD, sources have even gone so far as to say that Bedat might resign from his post at the firm. A spokeswoman for Gucci said: "We can confirm that the rumour exists, but we never comment on rumours."

Gucci Group acquired 85 percent of Bedat in 2000 and the maker of elegant timepieces is now one of the smaller labels owned by the group, which include Boucheron, Balenciaga, Alexander McQueen and Stella McCartney. This summer, a reorganisation of the group's watch business took place, placing Gucci brand's chief executive Mark Lee at its helm. The company said the current chief executive of the Gucci Group watch business, Jacques-Philippe Auriol, will leave when his contract expires at the end of the year. The group also said it was considering a new organisational structure for the Bedat and Boucheron brands.