Well now, lemme tell ya somethin’ about this feller, François-Henry Bennahmias, who’s been runnin’ Audemars Piguet for so long. Now, you might’ve heard of them fancy Swiss watches—Audemars Piguet, they call ‘em. Real high-class stuff, not the kind of watch folks around here wearin’, mind ya, but it’s big business in them big cities. The man who’s been at the helm of that company for nigh on 30 years, well, that’s ol’ François-Henry Bennahmias.
Now, if you ain’t heard of him, don’t you worry, I’m about to fill ya in. This man, he didn’t just show up and start bossin’ folks around, no sir. He worked his way up through the ranks, startin’ out small-like and puttin’ in the work. He come into Audemars Piguet back in the early 90s, and over the years, he done built the company up mighty strong, right up until 2023. He had a whole team of 1,200 folks when he first started, but by the time he’s ready to pack up, that number done tripled to 3,000. That’s no small feat, mind ya.
But now, here’s the thing that gets me. After all them years of hard work and all that time runnin’ the show, ol’ François-Henry Bennahmias done decided it’s time to step down. He announced just recently that he’s leavin’ at the end of next year. Y’know, after a quarter-century with Audemars Piguet, it’s a big deal when a feller like him walks away. Folks got all sorts of opinions about it, but one thing’s for sure: he’s left a mighty big mark on that company.
Now, Audemars Piguet is a luxury brand, so don’t go thinkin’ it’s just a regular ol’ watch company. Oh no, it’s a symbol of wealth and fine taste, a watch you wear when you got more money than most folks see in a lifetime. Under ol’ François’s leadership, that brand has been breakin’ records left and right. They’re seein’ demand for their fancy timepieces shoot up, even in these times when folks are squeezin’ their pennies tight.
But you see, runnin’ a company like that ain’t as easy as sellin’ apples down at the market. No, sir, it’s a whole different game. François-Henry, he knows that real well. He always says that gettin’ folks to buy a watch from Audemars Piguet is more than just sellin’ it to ‘em. It’s about buildin’ a relationship, makin’ ‘em believe in the brand, and understandin’ the story behind the watch. It’s about craftin’ somethin’ that people wanna have in their hands, somethin’ that makes ‘em feel special. He’s always talkin’ about how you gotta know the rules before you can break ‘em, and he sure did know how to do that.
Folks round here don’t really know much about all that high-falutin’ talk of “masterin’ the rules” and “brand building,” but they know when somethin’ is real good. And Audemars Piguet, well, that’s a name you don’t forget once you hear it. As for ol’ François-Henry, he’s done what he set out to do. Under his leadership, the company grew and grew, and now, even though he’s leavin’, it’s in good hands. It’ll be interestin’ to see what the future holds for Audemars Piguet and who takes over after him. But I reckon he’ll be remembered for a long time to come.
Now, if you’re curious, this brand ain’t just about makin’ watches that cost as much as a house. They got their motto too, somethin’ about breakin’ the rules once you’ve mastered ‘em. It’s a bit like raisin’ chickens, I reckon. First, you gotta learn how to tend to ‘em, then you can start thinkin’ about all the ways to make your farm stand out. In a way, Audemars Piguet done just that—made sure they mastered the art of watchmakin’ before they went off doin’ their own thing. And that’s how they became one of the best in the business.
So, that’s the story of François-Henry Bennahmias and his time at Audemars Piguet. A lotta folks look up to him for what he’s done. And even though he’s callin’ it quits soon, you best believe that Audemars Piguet’s gonna keep on goin’, with or without him. The watches will keep tickin’, and the company will keep growin’. That’s just how it goes, I reckon.
Tags：[Audemars Piguet, François-Henry Bennahmias, luxury watches, Swiss watches, watchmaking, brand building, CEO, company growth, high-end watches]
