PPR Luxury Group announced August 18th, 2011, the appointment of Michele Sofisti as CEO of SOWIND Group. He will be seconded by Stefano Macaluso, Managing Director for Girard-Perregaux, and Massimo Macaluso, Managing Director for JeanRichard and the Manufacture, whos stay their current position. He will also continue to serve as Chief Executive Officer GUCCI Group Watches and Jewellery, and Member of the board of Directors of GUCCI Timepieces Hong Kong, China, Taiwan and Japan.
An expert of the Haute Horlogerie industry, Michele Sofisti joined GUCCI Group Watches as Strategic Advisor 2009. He was promoted to CEO 2010 after helping successfully reposition GUCCI’s product offering within the watchmaking market.
Commenting on this annoncement, Francois-Henri Pinault, CEO of PPR and President of Sowind Group, said: “I am pleased to welcome Michele Sofisti to this new role. Michele has strong management expertise within the high-end watchmaking segment. I am confident that he will be able to develop Sowind Group’s growth on the international market, just as he is successfully doing currently at GUCCI Group Watches.”
Michele Sofisti commented: “I am delighted to be offered the opportunity to further develop this high-end watchmaking manufacture, which includes such a prestigious brand as Girard-Perregaux. I am looking forward to work alongside Monica Macaluso and with Stefano and Massimo Macaluso to bring Sowind’s growth potential to full frution.”
Girard-Perregaux – Cat’s Eye – High Jewellery, Tourbillon with Gold Bridge is pre-selected in the category ‘Jewellery and Artistic Crafts watch’ ‘for the 2011 Edition Grand Prix d’Horlogeries de Geneve
The awards ceremony of the 2011 Geneva Watchmaking Grand Prix will be take place on Saturday, 19th November, 2011 at Geneva, Grand Theatre.
Girard-Perregaux presents a rare creation that combines the jeweller’s art with the Brand’s watchmaking virtuosity: the Cat’s Eye Tourbillon Haute Joaillerie (Price: 490’000 CHF). Featuring the oval silhouettes that is caracteristic of the collection, the Cat’s Eye Tourbillon Haute Joaillerie is set entirely with baguette-cut diamonds. Given the exceptionally strict criteria used to select each of the 287 diamonds and the extreme precision required for the cutting, adjustement and setting of every stone, this stunning array of almost 20 carats demands over 700 hours of patient work.
The dedication of the Manufacturer’s craftsmen is expressed in the myriad scintillations of every detail of the case, right down to the crown, which is set with twelve baguette-cut diamonds and adorned with an exceptional rose-cut diamond. This style of cut – of Baroque origin and used on rare stones – was a symbol of nobility and owes its name to the rose effect produced by the 24 facets of the diamond.
The dial of the Cat’s Eye Tourbillon Haute Joaillerie matches the geometry of the case to perfection and reveals the Girard-Perregaux Tourbillon with gold Bridge, itself a symbol of the Brand’s watchmaking expertise. The Tourbillon, composed of 72 parts all contained within a diameter of one centimetre and weighing just 0.3 grammes, has been decorated and assembled entirely by hand.
About Michele Sofisti
Michele Sofisti has extensive experience in the watchmaking industry. Before creating Sofos Management, his own activity devoted to international strategy, marketing and management consulting, in 2005, Michele Sofisti was President of Swatch AG (Switzerland) for five years. He also served as President of Fred Jewellers and Christian Dior watches at LVMH, following his inital experience in the Swatch Group as Vice-President and the President of OMEGA SA. He began is career as a Geologist, the entering Ferrari where he was promoted as CEO of Ferrari Germany. An Italian national, Michele Sofisti earned a degree in Geology from the University of Parma.
About Sowind Group
Based in La-Chaux-de-Fonds, Sowind Group is a Swiss Haute Horlogerie group that includes the Girard-Perregaux and JeanRichard brands, and also Sowind Manufacture, which develope and produces a complete portfolio of high-end watch movements (more than 100 variants) and collections of mechanical watches. The R&D Centre is the cornerstore of the Group and concentrates a large part of investments. Girard-Perregaux traces its origins back to 1791, and the 220 years of history of the brand are marked by numerous inventions that combine design with state-of-the-art technology, such as the renowned “Tourbillon with Three Gold Bridges” created by Constant Girard in the 19th century. Girard-Perregaux operates worldwide with 500 hgh prestige sales outlets and 11 boutiques in Asia, the United States and Europe. JeanRichard, a brand dedicated to Daniel JeanRichard (who pionered watchmaking in the Swiss Jura Mountains during 17th century) presents an always innovative interpretation of traditional watchmaking. Since July 5 2011, PPR Luxury Group has become majority shareholder of Sowind Group with 50.1% of the shares, 49.9% being owned by the Macaluso family.
Editorial by ANDREA JANKE / ANDREA JANKE Finest Accessories
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