Man Of The Times

It started with a “mistake” when he sold Blancpain in 1992. But with a unique perspective and various protégés he’s groomed over the years, JEAN-CLAUDE BIVER went on to become one of the most revered names in the Swiss watch industry. He speaks to Melainne Chiew on the essence of reaching success and the legacy he’s leaving behind

- Melainne Chiew

What makes a visionary? Jean-Claude Biver might be on to something. Looking back at an extraordinary career in the Swiss luxury watch business spanning more than 40 years, the multihyphenate (among other things, he’s also an amateur cheesemaker) has left quite the mark. With a storied Midas touch, he has travelled from Blancpain to Omega, then moved on to Hublot, TAG Heuer and Zenith, reversing each brand’s fortunes and transforming them into gold.

Biver’s first major success was in revitalising Blancpain and selling it off in 1992 for 60 million Swiss francs (nearly S$82.5 million) – almost 3,000 times what he bought it for a decade prior (about 22,000 Swiss francs) – after rebuilding it from near death. The man isn’t one to rest on his laurels though. “Selling Blancpain ended up with so many positive outcomes. I could’ve done nothing after and just slept on my millions,” he says. “But all the experiences at Hublot and other brands that made me who I am now, I would not have had. I’d probably have remained the little boss of Blancpain and hey, maybe I wouldn’t be unhappy with that. But in retrospect, I believe everything turned out wonderfully after I let the brand move on.”