The Julien Tornare Show

The TAG Heuer CEO will embark on his next tour of duty in LVMH Watches when he takes on the role of CEO at Hublot in September. We spoke to him about his take on leadership in the world of luxury watches.

- SUFFIAN HAKIM

ONE OF MY FAVOURITE videos of Julien Tornare was an in-car interview he did with Genevan watch website World Tempus called World Tempus Taxi. Journalists from the online magazine would ferry captains of the watch industry to important watch fairs or events.

The format is reminiscent of Jerry Seinfeld's Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee.

For Tornare, Sophie Furley drives thethen CEO of Zenith, to Watches & Wonders Geneva 2022 in a stunning Rolls-Royce Black Badge Ghost. You can tell instantly from the interview he adopts a warm, people-first approach. "I'm so happy to see everyone together. The press, retailers, clients, suppliers together in this one place," he said to Furley.

It's a central part of his personality and leadership style. When I meet him for our interview at the ION Suites lounge, he gives an easy smile, and a good handshake - firm, but not imposing. The tell is the way he asks, "How are you?" For some people, that's lip service, the script to follow introductions.

From him, it was a genuine question. There was interest in his voice, to get to know the human being in front of him.

"I love your shoes," he says after some small talk. I was wearing a pair of Ferragamo sneakers, but I've had them for years and they were scuffed.

"They're old and worn," I reply.