Georges A. Kern is a German-Swiss business executive and entrepreneur who has been CEO and shareholder of Swiss watchmaker Breitling since 2017. After studying political science in Strasbourg and completing a degree in business administration at the University of St. Gallen, he began his career at Kraft Foods before moving into the watch industry with TAG Heuer. He joined Richemont in 2000, helped integrate A. Lange & Söhne, Jaeger-LeCoultre, and IWC, and in 2002 became Richemont’s youngest CEO when he took over IWC Schaffhausen. At Breitling, he has overseen rapid growth, doubling turnover between 2017 and 2023 and repositioning the brand among the top global luxury watchmakers.
Beyond his corporate roles, he has been active in philanthropy, sustainability initiatives, and Swiss public life, including prior involvement with the World Economic Forum’s Young Global Leaders and the Green Liberal Party of Switzerland.
INSIGHT FROM GEORGES: “You need to create a story, this is what you’re selling. You’re not selling a function, you’re selling an emotion.”