Bolstering Breitling: CEO Georges Kern Talks Resilience and Reach Amid Watch Industry Headwinds

Georges Kern, the CEO of Breitling, is steadfast in his plans to increase his company’s reach even as economic hurdles and U.S. tariffs challenge the watch sector. Kern isn’t letting these hurdles slow his plans to launch Universal Geneve and Gallet brands in 2026, revealing his tenacious grip on the horological industry.

Since stepping into the role of CEO in 2017, Kern has been instrumental in orchestrating rapid growth at Breitling, taking the venerable marque from a sale value of under a billion dollars to a whopping evaluation of over $4 billion in 2022. This period of expansion, however, now faces rigorous tests in the face of economic and political pressures.

Kern has engaging thoughts on how he plans to position Gallet and Universal Geneve, two brands at polar ends of the luxury watch sector. He also shares his thoughts on the marketing strategies that have led to inflated prices in the industry, predicting a rude awakening for the said brands. Despite the challenging state of the industry, the Breitling CEO maintains an unyielding optimism that his brands can weather the storm and continue to thrive.