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Benoit de Clerck to be head of IWC Asia Pacific

  • forum 4 replies
  • last reply by LarrySeiden 16 Nov 2010
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    Moderator
    13 Nov 2010, 4:36 a.m.
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    Benoit de Clerck, who has been a friend to me and many collectors, will be leaving his position as President of IWC North America. He will be moving to Hong Kong to be President of IWC Asia Pacific (China, Hong Kong, Korea, etc.). The former head if Asia for IWC, Etienne de Gramont, will be moving to Switzerland to become international sales manager for Roger Dubuis.

    The North American market for IWC will now be run by Gianfranco D’Attis, who currently is the Brand Director for IWC Middle East. Benoit worked with Gianfranco in Dubai and expects a seamless transition.

    Benoit has been in charge of the U.S. for seven years, and in my opinion has done a terrific job. Sales have increased dramatically, and with some luck 2010 could be a record year. He also has reached out to collectors, and has been extraordinarily supportive of me and this forum. We will be staying in touch despite some greater distance.

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    Master
    13 Nov 2010, 5:02 a.m.
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    It is sad to see Mr. de Clerck leave us. I have met him a few times in the USA as well as at SIHH. He has always been very interested in listening to collectors ideas and answering their questions. Now a new chapter will open in the USA as his successor takes over.

    With Asia Pacific leading the market for IWC, he will have enormous influence on IWC's direction in the future. I wish him well with his new responsibilities.

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    Master
    13 Nov 2010, 5:29 a.m.
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    Good luck to a real Forum friend.

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    Master
    13 Nov 2010, 11:57 p.m.
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    This news is both good and sad. Good for Mr. DeClerck, but sad for us here in North America, where he was absolutely a friend of us collectors. I wish him only the best success in his new position, and don't doubt he will achieve it.

    The exciting part is getting Mr. D'Attis, and I hope he will be as helpful to Michael, and the collectors, as Benoit was- I feel confident it will happen!

    As far as a US Collectors meeting goes, hopefully Mr. D'Attis will believe this would be a great way for us to meet him, and will keep this idea on the fast-track table.

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    Master
    16 Nov 2010, 6:07 a.m.
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    First of all, congratulations to Benoit! From a collector's viewpoint, I believe he did a fabulous job as head of IWC North America. Our collector brothers (and sisters) in Asia are going to enjoy having Benoit around. He is a wonderful man, a ball of energy and IWC will be even bigger in Asia once Benoit arrives.

    I'm looking forward to meeting Mr. D'Attis. I'm sure he will be a worthy successor and I wish him the best of luck in a big, big market.

    I sincerely hopes he recognizes the value of the collector community. I also hope that the IWC North America team (besides Benoit) stays just as it is.

    All my best,
    Larry