[Interview] IWC CEO Christoph Grainger-Herr

Christophe Grainger-Herr, the highly acclaimed CEO of the Richemont Group, always leaves clear and unequivocal comments on the current issues facing the watch industry. I wanted to ask him about this year's new releases, his environmental efforts, and his response to genderlessness.

A talented CEO talks sustainability and gender-free

Christophe Granger-Herr
Born in Germany in 1978, he graduated from the University of the Arts London and other institutions before building a career as an architect. In 2006, he joined IWC. After being involved in the design of the IWC Museum and the rebranding of IWC and Roger Dubuis, he further developed his career in several departments. He has been in his current position since 17. As a former architect, he says, "The definition of an architect is the construction of a vision. Architects are the cultural creators of society."

"Why did we release a 43mm Big Pilot's Watch this year? To put it jokingly, its history is a history of downsizing. It was originally 55mm, then 46mm, and this year it's 43mm. When we released the Big Pilot's Watch in 2002, the main market was countries with many people with thick wrists, like the Netherlands. But now, as the brand name suggests, our market has become international. That's why we released a smaller model. IWC watches are meant to be worn, after all. We took comfort in wearing them into consideration."

　Next is the environmental issue. IWC has been recognized by UNESCO as the Swiss watch manufacturer with the most advanced environmental measures.

"IWC was originally a sustainable company when Jones founded the company. It generates electricity using hydroelectric power and uses it to run its factories. Also, design, engineering, manufacturing and marketing have all been done in one place for a long time. With the pandemic, where a watch is made has become important. In that respect, IWC has a history of producing its watches in one place. I think what will be important from now on is to downsize all elements related to watches, such as shipping, supply chain, shops and materials. It will be a very long journey, but I believe it must be done. IWC watches are designed to last a long time. This is sustainability."

　The last question is about how each manufacturer is responding to genderless initiatives. As far as I know, IWC was one of the first to take on gender-neutral initiatives.

"We don't divide our target groups by gender. We differentiate purely by lifestyle: aviation, navigation, diving, etc., not by gender. Our new flagship store in Zurich is based on the concept of classic racing. Traditionally, this would be aimed at men. But gender is irrelevant, and we don't have separate sections for men and women, although children's may be necessary (laughs). In fact, since 1994, the Portugieser Chronograph has been loved by many women as well. Design will no longer be based on gender, but on lifestyle. I think we need to continue this discussion against traditional gender stereotypes."