A Class Apart
MillionaireAsia India|July/August 2017

A key player in the luxury market, Montblanc returns to India with AB de Villiers as the justified brand ambassador. We discover more in this exclusive interview.

Rama Ahuja
A Class Apart

They say, “dynamism is a function of change.” Eric Vergnes, President, Montblanc Middle East, India and Africa, talks about the luxury-scape in India. We discover how Montblanc plans to tap the market through its re-entry in joint venture with Titan. Through its association with UNICEF, the marque continues to make significant contribution in imparting education to children across the globe. As we converse with Vergnes, we discover, among other things, cricketing legend AB de Villiers as Montblanc’s new ambassador for India and South Africa.

How would you describe India’s luxury market with specific regard to buyer sentiment right now?

India’s luxury market is strong right now and Montblanc enjoys a strong awareness. Our customer base in India is large and discerning. There are no major differences in the best sellers in Hamburg, London and Dubai than the ones of Mumbai or Delhi.

We understand Montblanc wants to double its boutique presence by 2018. What are some of the factors fuelling this growth?

The sheer size of the Indian market, the emergence of the growing upper middle class and a young demographic with increasing interest in luxury are all driving luxury spend and indicate the market will likely enjoy continued growth in coming years. We see enormous potential in the market and are selecting our boutique locations carefully to ensure we can provide the proper Montblanc shopping experience to our customers across the region.

Please tell us about your joint venture with Titan.

This story is from the July/August 2017 edition of MillionaireAsia India.

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This story is from the July/August 2017 edition of MillionaireAsia India.

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