TIME TO TELL

Jaeger-LeCoultre's proclamation of being a Watchmaker Of Watchmakers is no mere boast but a reaffirmation of a horological truth, says its CEO, Catherine Rénier.

- Alvin Wong

CATHERINE RÉNIER IS a trooper. Fielding questions with razor-sharp focus from the cushy confines of Jaeger-LeCoultre’s newly furbished Marina Bay Sands boutique, one could hardly have guessed that the genial CEO was nursing an injured ankle and jetlag. “It’s nothing. It is more important take this time to see everyone,” she brushes off my concerns with a shrug.

While a mere suggestion, Rénier’s determination to get on with things is a reflection of the way she has led Jaeger-LeCoultre for the past five years. Since taking the helm of the 190-year-old watchmaking house, Rénier—a rarity in the male-dominated watch business—has imbued Jaeger-LeCoultre with a fresh urgency to broaden its appeal while staying true to the company’s spirit and ethos.