Audemars Piguet’s new CEO of Southeast Asia, Jonathan King, is an industry veteran who knows the region like the back of his hand, observes Candice Chan
BARELY THREE DAYS into the job and Jonathan King, Audemars Piguet’s CEO of Southeast Asia, had to host an event with some of the brand’s important clients. But it was no tall order for the man who had lived in Japan for the last five years. “It was like catching up with some old friends, some fast firm new friends — it was wonderful,” shares King, who is no stranger to Singapore.
Most of the Englishman’s career moves in the luxury sector was based in the city-state. Prior to his stint as CEO of Audemars Piguet Japan and Korea, he headed operations at Van Cleef & Arpels in Southeast Asia for more than three years. Before that, he spent a year with Singapore-based luxury retailer Valiram Group as its Asia Pacific general manager (2008 to 2009). Barring a two-year stint in Hong Kong with IWC Schaffhausen as its retail and export director (2006 to 2007) and regional brand manager (2007 to 2008), he was IWC Southeast Asia’s regional brand manager. The last meant he was based in Singapore for a little over four years. Go back further, and you’ll discover King also worked at the Four Seasons Hotel Singapore as its senior sales and events manager, prior to his year in London with Harrods.
“Singapore is surrounded by countries that are constantly developing and emerging — that’s why I love Southeast Asia,” he says of his affinity for the region. “We’re going to see continued importance and evolution of this 2.5-billion population (if I include India). My task is to see how we can position ourselves to best leverage opportunities that arise in this very dynamic, diverse geographical, geopolitical environment.”
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