Founded in 1978 by Don and Deyon Stephens, Mercy Ships has operated in 75 countries, bringing life-saving surgeries and medicine to those without access to such care. Roland Decorvet, chairman of Mercy Ships Switzerland, refers to the ship as a “floating village” that reaches “the forgotten, the poorest of the poor,” and requires thousands of volunteers and millions of dollars each year. Decorvet says an even bigger USD 130 million version of the ship is coming soon.
“We keep our watch suppliers within Switzerland,” says Bulgari CEO
While some in the watch industry are concerned about pressure being put on suppliers, Bulgari CEO Jean-Christophe Babin has several approaches to making sure that doesn’t happen at his company. In the final part, Babin talks about being a fair partner to watch suppliers and gets personal about his career and his achievements.
Bulgari, LVMH watch brands to hold own fair in Dubai in January 2020
Unhappy with SIHH and Baselworld’s coordinated decision to move their watch fairs later in the year, Bulgari, together with other LVMH watch brands, will hold an event of their own in Dubai in January 2020. In part three, Jean-Christophe Babin talks about what’s behind the decision, and says that while Bulgari will be at Baselworld next year, he puts a “big question mark” on a return beyond 2020.
Co-working remains popular, just not with investors
Just months after the implosion of WeWork, the Chinese co-working company Ucommune is gearing up to go public on the New York Stock Exchange. The company will need to make a convincing case that it has a road map for turning a “business model into a profit zone,” says Wolfgang Ulaga, a professor of marketing at INSEAD.
Babin: Bulgari’s success helped lead to LVMH acquisition of Tiffany
LVMH surprised many with its record-breaking USD 16.2 billion purchase of Tiffany & Co. last month. However, Jean-Christophe Babin, CEO of LVMH-owned luxury jewelry brand Bulgari, is not quite as surprised by the move and lends it in part to his company’s success. In part two, Babin addresses the acquisition and compares what the two jewelry brands bring to the portfolio.
CEO Jean-Christophe Babin on Bulgari’s “best year in history”
Fresh off of Bulgari’s big night at the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève last month, CEO Jean-Christophe Babin is not letting the yellow vests movement in France or the Hong Kong protests dampen the shine of this year. “We will achieve our best year in history,” says Babin, who stresses his personal goal to make the Italian jewelry brand number one in the world.
The gathering clouds over the European Union
Brexit is just one reason why the European Union should be concerned, says Bruegel’s Guntram Wolff. Between what he calls an “antiquated agricultural policy” and a lack of preparedness in keeping its economy safe, Wolff says there is a lot of work to be done. In part two of our interview at the Europa Forum in Lucerne last week, he laid out some of the biggest threats, but also opportunities, for the EU.
Relations with Switzerland far from the top of EU agenda, says Wolff
When it comes to relations with Switzerland, Guntram Wolff, director of European think tank Bruegel, says the new European Commission leadership has bigger fish to fry. “It’s just not on the top of the agenda for the top brass,” he says. Wolff highlights the EU’s top three issues and explains what Switzerland needs to know about what really matters to the European Union.
Airbus says it has a good deal for fighter jets, but will it matter?
Companies including Airbus and Boeing are vying for the chance to replace Switzerland’s fighter jets. Dirk Hoke, CEO of Airbus Defence and Space, is confident his company’s offer is the best one on the table. But that may not matter if Swiss voters reject the purchase in 2020. Hoke lays out the “very suitable offer” and gives a glimpse into Airbus’ involvement in the collaboration between the ESA and NASA to get back on the moon by 2024.
Roland Decorvet on the “biggest lie in the corporate world”
Roland Decorvet, the former CEO and chairman of Nestlé China, says that while his 20 years at the food giant shaped him as a leader, his experience as chairman of Mercy Ships Switzerland has taught him “what not to do.” In the final part of our interview, he shares his views on leadership and talks about what he calls “the biggest lie in the corporate world.”
Decorvet: Africa needs “capitalism with a purpose”
Roland Decorvet, CEO of Philafrica Foods, says his company is not just about helping Africa, but rather trying to industrialize the continent. “We’re not giving handouts for people to survive,” he says. “We’re creating jobs, factories, and we’re helping farmers supply their crops to us at a good price.” In part three, Decorvet, the ex-Nestlé China head, talks about his goal to make Africa more self-sustainable.
Africa is the new China, says Roland Decorvet
Roland Decorvet, CEO of Philafrica Foods, sees similarities between 1990s China and the Africa of today. He cites Ethiopia’s capital Addis Ababa as an example, saying it looks like Beijing back in 1992. “It has strong government involvement, infrastructure being built, and a subway many European cities don’t have,” says Decorvet. In part two, he calls for more meaningful investment in Africa and talks about the role Switzerland, and Europe overall, must play to support growth.
The world’s largest private hospital ship has a bigger one on the way
Founded in 1978 by Don and Deyon Stephens, Mercy Ships has operated in 75 countries, bringing life-saving surgeries and medicine to those without access to such care. Roland Decorvet, chairman of Mercy Ships Switzerland, refers to the ship as a “floating village” that reaches “the forgotten, the poorest of the poor,” and requires thousands of volunteers and millions of dollars each year. Decorvet says an even bigger USD 130 million version of the ship is coming soon.
Wolford aims to have 50 percent of products in circular economy by 2025
Wolford has been developing sustainable products since 2013 without any turnover, says director Andreas Röhrich. But the hefty investment has paid off in the form of a coveted certification from Cradle to Cradle, a global measure of sustainable products. Röhrich was a presenter at the Good Brand Guru event in Zurich last week to show how Wolford is marrying lingerie with sustainability.
“Our competitor is the naked leg,” says Wolford exec Röhrich
Austrian hosiery company Wolford is yet another in a long line of apparel brands feeling the pinch of slowing sales. Andreas Röhrich, director of product development, innovation and sustainability, says its biggest competition is not Swiss brands like Fogal and Falke, but rather a shift in trends. Röhrich says a foray into the Chinese market, and a renewed focus on innovation and sustainability, will help boost Wolford in the years ahead.
