As a house renowned for horological complications, it should come as no surprise that Breguet chose two technical experts in quick succession to lead it. While Lionel a Marca was a watchmaker-repairer, Gregory Kissling is a microtechnology engineer. Both share around two decades of experience with Swatch Group – 20 years exactly for Gregory Kissling. He joined Omega in 2004 and remained there until his appointment as Breguet CEO on 1 October. He enjoys the full confidence of Nick Hayek, who was a strong advocate for his appointment, as well as the trust of Marc Hayek, Nick’s nephew, who remains Breguet’s president.
A timely yet challenging transition
The handover is both timely and challenging. Timely because, in the space of three years, Lionel a Marca has successfully completed the relaunch of the Type XX, a cornerstone of the Breguet’s current collections, which now features its first in-house chronograph. The seasoned watchmaker saw this essential task through to completion, even shouldering the responsibility for delaying the launch until the product was fully reliable. And challenging because Gregory Kissling is stepping in mid-course, as preparations for Breguet’s 250th anniversary celebrations in 2025 are already well under way. All the plans, products, and commercial strategies have been set in motion without his input, yet he will be accountable for their execution.
A unifying leader
Despite the tricky timing Gregory Kissling brings significant strengths to his new role. His deep understanding of Swatch Group will help him access vital support within the group. He’s well regarded throughout the industry and has a reputation for approachability and expertise. And finally, 20 years’ experience giving presentations and meeting people all over the world have fostered strong relationships with media and collectors alike. Gregory Kissling can also take some credit – though he’d likely downplay his role – for several of Omega’s recent triumphs. These include the Seamaster James Bond ‘No Time To Die’ launch and the 60th anniversary of the 007 franchise, the revival of the 321 calibre and the releases of the Speedmaster Snoopy and Chrono Chime models.
The road ahead
While it’s far too early to predict Gregory Kissling’s exact plans for Breguet, there is a clear personal thread running through his profile. He’s an endurance runner, accustomed to racing distances up to 100 km. He excels at managing his resources, setting a goal and achieving it through sustained and steady effort. These qualities will serve him well as he steers the brand that invented the tourbillon.
He plans to spend the next three months immersing himself in Breguet’s history before making any public statements. By then, it will be 1 January 2025, the first day of Breguet’s 250th anniversary year. He’ll be jumping in at the deep end – a rather unusual experience for a long-distance runner.
