Time for a break from cars.
I just read where Patek Philippe's exclusive US importer has a new President, Lisa Jones. Why is this worth writing about? Well, I love watches. Also, it's a great example of promoting from within.
Rather than selecting an exec from a multi-billion dollar CPG company and risking missing the entire Patek brand value, they chose a highly qualified, 16 year sales and marketing VP of Henri Stern Watch Agency, Patek's US importer.
Admittedly I don't know her, but it's a feel good story of promoting from within and prioritizing an understanding of the industry and the brand's value within that industry.
This at a time of disruption at watch powerhouse LVMH (Zenith, Tag Heuer, and red hot Hublot) with visionary brand builder Jean-Claude Biver stepping back at the end of 2018 after an illness. This decision was at a critical time of his rebirth of their bread and butter Tag Heuer brand through a massive new product blitz including the Carrera 01, Carrera 02 GMT, Autavia, upcoming Monaco 50th anniversary models, and carbon mainspring innovation.
While I've not followed Patek like I've followed Zenith, Gallet (Jimmy Clark's watch brand), pre-Tag Heuers, Devon, and Hublot, the brand is vital to the industry and has rightly earned it's position as THE exclusive heritage watch brand.