Reaching For The Stars

Men's Folio spent some time chatting with Zenith's new CEO, Benoit de Clerck, at Watches & Wonders Geneva about his direction for the brand and his tenure thus far.

- Asaph Low

As the Greek philosopher Heraclitus observed, change is the only constant. We experience it differently throughout our lives; it could be as simple as the weather changing or as drastic as migrating to a new country. With this knowledge in mind, our perspective and approach towards change — whether positive or negative — affects how we deal with it.

At the start of the year, a host of appointments and mobilities within the LVMH Watches & Jewellery Division saw Benoit de Clerck succeeding Julien Tornare — now CEO of TAG Heuer — as CEO of Zenith. De Clerck brings with him 25 years of experience, watchmaking expertise and deep knowledge of strategic international business development in the industry, plying his trade across four different continents — the most recent being Panerai’s chief commercial officer. After nearly three decades, the spotlight is firmly on de Clerck as he steers Zenith toward reaching their star and his horizon of vision and ambitions. Throughout the interview, de Clerck is intense and sharp but personable — leaving a good impression. One could tell the man had done his due diligence on the manufacture with the responses at his fingertips and having put through the paces LVMH Watch Week 2024 and now, Watches & Wonders Geneva.

THE PAST SIX MONTHS OR SO MUST HAVE BEEN INTENSE FOR YOU, FROM BEING APPOINTED ZENITH’S CEO TO ATTENDING LVMH WATCH WEEK 2024 AND NOW WATCHES & WONDERS GENEVA. HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR JOURNEY WITH ZENITH SO FAR?

Thank you for empathising with me. [Laughs] It’s been very challenging and interesting at the same time. January’s LVMH Watch Week was a very good immersive experience for me to get involved with Zenith, the team and the LVMH group. Watches and Wonders (Geneva) is the next important milestone within the watch industry and for Zenith, and I must admit it has been going very well and beyond expectations.