iW Magazine Winter 2019 | Page 53

FRANCOIS-HENRY BENNAHMIAS, Francois-Henry Bennahmias CEO Audemars Piguet BY VASKEN CHOKARIAN WE HAVE TO CHALLENGE OUR TEAMS LEFT AND RIGHT ON EVERYTHING WE DO, WHETHER IT’S ON THE MECHANICAL SIDE OR THE DESIGN SIDE. Royal Oak Concept GMT, now with a flying tourbillon WORKING TOGETHER AS A TEAM IS A PRIMARY STRATEGY AT AUDEMARS PIGUET, AND FRANCOIS- HENRY BENNAHMIAS IS THE HEAD COACH. HE HAS BEEN WITH AUDEMARS PIGUET SINCE 1994 AND SERVED AS ITS U.S. PRESIDENT FROM 1999 TO 2012 WHEN HE WAS NAMED INTERIM CEO. OFFICIALLY STARTING AS CEO IN 2013, BENNAHMIAS HAS HELPED PROPEL AUDEMARS PIGUET TO DOUBLE-DIGIT GROWTH IN EACH OF THE YEARS SINCE. WE CAUGHT UP WITH BENNAHMIAS IN 2018 FOR A CHAT. BELOW ARE EXCERPTS FROM OUR DISCUSSION, IN WHICH HE EXPLAINED HOW TEAMWORK CREATES A SMARTER WORKFORCE – AND HELPS DRIVE SALES. WINTER 2019 | INTERNATIONAL WATCH | 53