Johannesburg – Billionaire Johann Rupert’s son, Anton Rupert, has been appointed non-executive co-deputy chairman of Swiss luxury goods giant Compagnie Financière Richemont, in what has been described as a significant step in the family’s long-term succession planning.
According to BusinessTech, Richemont announced on Wednesday that Anton Rupert’s appointment takes immediate effect. He will share the co-deputy chairman role with Bram Schot, who has held the position since 2024.
Anton, 39, has served as a non-executive director of Richemont since 2017 and has also held positions within the Rupert family’s broader business interests, including Remgro.
Daily Investor reports that he was appointed to Remgro’s board in 2018.
His new responsibilities will focus on Richemont’s strategic product and communications committee, covering the group’s luxury “Maisons”, including Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels and other major brands. Schot will concentrate on board governance and committee matters.
Important milestone
Richemont said the division of responsibilities is intended to ensure that “both the group’s strategic priorities and its governance obligations receive dedicated attention”.
Johann Rupert, who chairs Richemont, described Anton’s appointment as an important milestone in the company’s succession planning.
“Richemont’s strength has always rested on the continuity that comes from close family involvement, on rigorous governance and on an unwavering commitment to creativity and craftsmanship,” Johann Rupert said.
He added that having Anton and Schot serve together would ensure the group’s creative and governance priorities received equal attention.
“Together they reflect what has always guided this Group – a long-term view, a respect for the people and savoir-faire behind our Maisons, and the discipline to steward them responsibly for the generations to come.”
Reuters also described the appointment as part of Richemont’s broader succession strategy, noting that Anton will focus on strategic product and communication matters while Schot oversees governance.
Succession plans
The move is significant because Anton has increasingly emerged as a key figure in the Rupert family’s business succession plans. BusinessTech reported previously that Johann Rupert had established a succession plan and that Anton was expected to play a central role in the future of the family’s business empire, which includes Richemont, Remgro and Reinet.
The Rupert family retains significant influence over Richemont. According to a report by Boursorama, the family’s holding company controlled about 50.6% of Richemont’s voting rights as of March 2026, despite holding a smaller percentage of the company’s capital.
Johann Rupert remains one of South Africa’s wealthiest businessmen, with his fortune closely linked to Richemont and its luxury brands. Nairametrics reported in August that Forbes estimated his net worth at about $17.4 billion, up from an estimated $16.1 billion in 2025.
The appointment therefore represents more than a boardroom promotion: it provides a clearer indication of how control of one of the world’s major luxury groups could eventually transition to the next generation of the Rupert family.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
