CEO Talks

Mr Ekdahl, how did you go from a top Swiss brand like IWC to a small watch start-up like Leica? Few people know this, but this is actually my second time at Leica. After completing my studies in Sweden, I was working in Saarbrücken as a postgraduate in the 1990s when I saw an advertisement…

Laurent Dordet has been with Hermès for 29 years, having started in finance before transitioning into silk and textiles, followed by exotic leather, tanneries and leather bags. Describing himself as having had ‘five different lives’ within the company, he has been at the helm of Hermès’ watchmaking department as the CEO of Hermès Horloger since…

At 29 years old, Federico Ziviani is one of the youngest to lead a company in the industry – and not just any. As CEO of Gerald Charles, he is a breath of fresh air that strikes the balance between preserving the legacy of watch design legend Gérald Charles Genta and driving innovation. This year…

Vanguart is a brand founded in 2017 by Axel Leuenberger, Jérémy Freléchox, Thierry Fischer and Mehmet Koruturk, who designed and produced a completely new tourbillon mechanism on their own in just three years. The Blackhole displays the time in an unconventional but utterly ingenious way. This year saw the launch of the young brand’s second…

When you talk to Catherine Rénier about watches, you immediately sense the enthusiasm, deep respect and humility that the CEO of Jaeger-LeCoultre feels for watchmaking. We met Catherine Rénier in Munich on the occasion of the new boutique opening on Munich’s prestigious Maximilianstrasse, the world-famous shopping street that counts Chanel, Hermès, Ralph Lauren and many…

A couple of shots as a car backfires abruptly break up our interview. With a smile, Wilhelm Schmid apologises: "James Bond sends his regards." Next door, collector Fritz Burkard is showing off one of the most famous Aston Martin Coupés in the world: an original from the film set, a DB5, which was intended to…

Swisswatches recently had the honour of meeting once again with the CEO of Breitling, Georges Kern, following the launch of the brand’s first own boutique located in Munich, Germany. Spanning over 220 square metres and two floors, the boutique in many ways embodies Breitling’s plans for the future – as Kern explains to our very…

Ben Küffer, CEO and co-founder of the Norqain brand, is the wunderkind of Swiss watch start-ups. No other young watch brand has been able to establish itself so successfully so quickly. Only founded in 2018, Küffer was already able to secure an exclusive partnership with the renowned movement manufacturer Kenissi in 2020. A short time…

A name to pass on through the generations: Jean-Claude Biver Having lunch with the man who bears this name is a sensation in itself. Not because Jean-Claude Biver doesn't take the time. The grand master of the Swiss watch industry has always made time for the media, and even at the age of 74, and…

It was exactly five years ago that Zurab Zazashvili, founder of Swisswatches, first met Raynald Aeschlimann, then newly appointed CEO and President of Omega, for an interview. He had been in office for 22 months and the brand was celebrating its 170th birthday. The planned interview became an extended lunch date and was published that…

Patek Philippe is taking things to a whole new level Swisswatches enjoyed a personal encounter with Patek Philippe owner Thierry Stern and Kim-Eva Wempe, managing partner of Gerhard D. Wempe GmbH & Co. KG, at the inauguration of the new Patek Philippe boutique in Hamburg. Patek Philippe operates only three salons across the globe: one…

Nicola Andreatta has a calm, collected persona, despite leading the most fast-paced and disruptive horology house in the industry: Roger Dubuis. Following on from our time spent together at Goodwood Festival of Speed last year and our catch-up during the extraordinary year of 2020, we sat down once more to chime in 2023 with lunch at Il Mirtillo,…