Roland Enderli
Zenith Brand Director, North America
iW: Please describe the path that led you to your current position.
Roland Enderli: Following my studies in economics, I worked in the jewelry business for a couple of years and then joined Zenith in Switzerland in 2008. I was in charge of numerous European markets and was also involved in the development of our business in India, South Korea and Australia before I moved to the United States in 2011. I enjoy the challenge in this market that is filled with plenty of potential and opportunities. To work for such an authentic brand with an incredibly rich history is a real pleasure.
If your brand did not exist, which watch would you wear?
It depends on the occasion but in general I prefer classy, elegant timepieces. I particularly like watches from brands such as A. Lange & Söhne, Breguet and F.P. Journe.
Who do you consider to be the greatest watchmaker of all time?
Historically, numerous ingenious watchmakers have achieved true horological breakthroughs, such as Christiaan Huygens, John Harrison, Abraham-Louis Breguet. To date, I don’t think there is one single best watchmaker, but I especially admire Giulio Papi, who I had the pleasure to get to know during a watchmaking education that I received in Le Locle.
What are the challenges facing the watch industry?
The reduced supply of movements by ETA certainly poses a big challenge for many brands that used to focus their own resources on marketing rather than on an industrial basis and vertical integration. Moreover, the scarcity of talented and experienced watchmakers makes it difficult to meet the demand and ensure future growth. I also believe that after-sales services will face new challenges due to the significantly increased number of watches sold during the last decade.
Who is the most influential person in the watch industry?
Nick Hayek.
Stay tuned for the second part of Enderli’s interview…