Exclusive Interview for Panerai’s Managing Director in Asia Pacific Area Jean Sebastien Gerondeau

span>Share: Mr. Gerondeau wasborn and grew up in France. After getting the masters degree on global business at Rouen Higher Business School, Jean worked as a product manager in Cartier company. In 1999 he returned to Paris from Switzerland. Then he is responsible for the marketing plan of high-end watch sector. In 2001, he went to Milan, Italy, worked as marketing manager of Panerai. During this time, he actively promoted the brand expansion in global markets. In 2007,he arrived in Hong Kong and become the Managing Director of Panerai in Asia-Pacific region. A: Compared to other watch brands, which are the advantages and characteristics of Panerai?

Mr. Gerondeau: Panerai has a very special historical background. We had manufactured watch for Italian navy since 30th in twenty century. You can see its unique design. That is the dial is larger than other brands. In recent years, most of the watches are born in Switzerland. So the Italian background of Panerai is very special. We fix our position in high-end sports watch. High quality and limited edition are our important features. During the 60 years before 1993, we produced only 300 watches. And up to now we just have nine stores worldwide. In order to ensure the quality and uniqueness, the new style watches released in each year are limited. Many customers need queue to buy them. A: Which speciality of Panerai do you like most?

Mr. Gerondeau: Richemont took over Panerai in 1997. At that time, I had been working in Cartier. When I first saw this brand, its distinctive style attracted me. And in the market, it was very rare. I found relevant information to understand its Italian origin. Compared to Swiss watchmaking, Florence Workshop was so different. Among the luxurious brands in the list of Richemont, development of Panerai was strange. Its top quality and uniqueness interested me so much. A: As we know, Panerai was used exclusively by Italian navy. But now it opens to civilian market. Will this affect Panerai watches manufacturing with the change of customers?

Mr. Gerondeau: Maintain the quality of Panerai watches is very important for us. Of course, with the continuously development of watchmaking craft, our technology is different from before. However, its shape design and historical tradition will not change. You can see our latest watch is nearly the same with our first watch. We will not change it, but we can improve it based on the original watch, including materials, movement, internal processes. We can make it more perfect. But the appearance is same. Be faithful to history is the Panerais important value. We continually update the processing technology. Producing movement by ourselves is our main direction today. A: In 2007 Panerai has ever cooperate with Ferrari. What are the starting point and purpose?