IWC Portofino Hand-Wound Eight Days Silver (IW5101-03)

Following its takeover of H. Moser & Cie., MELB Holding has confirmed its intention to create a group of independent brands. He is thus taking over the management of H. Moser & Cie. and will be able to count on the full support of the team already in place. H. Moser & Cie. is greatly looking forward to Baselworld, bolstered with entrepreneurial energy and new developments that continue to build on the company's established values.
At the end of 2012, MELB Holding acquired the majority shareholding of H. Moser & Cie. MELB Holding is an independent, family-run group, and has every confidence in the potential of this company, which connoisseurs of fine watchmaking are fond of calling 'Schaffhausen's little pearl'. H. Moser & Cie. will benefit from MELB's experience and its network of partners, all of whom have professional backgrounds in prestigious watchmaking companies. Georges-Henri Meylan (Chairman, MELB Holding) and Bill Muirhead (CEO, MELB Holding) have clearly expressed their ambitions - namely to put H. Moser & Cie. firmly back in the black and reboost its image within three years. Today, H. Moser & Cie. has a 50-b personnel, owns six of its own calibres and completely masters its own design process with the support of its R&D department, a technical department for movements and cases and an integrated assembly workshop. MELB Holding recognised the twin assets that the H. Moser & Cie. brand had to offer, both as a fine company with quality products and as a strategic industrial facility. The Manufacture's control of the production of its regulating organs and balance-springs is a perfect fit with the philosophy of MELB Holding, which seeks to leverage synergies between its brands on both commercial and industrial levels.

New management

In order to realise its ambitions, MELB Holding has decided to inject an entrepreneurial element into the current team, starting with the appointment of Edouard Meylan as CEO. Holding an MSc in engineering from the EPFL and an MBA from Wharton (UPENN), Edouard Meylan is a well-known figure in the watch industry through his experience as CEO and co-founder of Celsius X VI II. In addition to a truly entrepreneurial spirit, he brings to the brand his all-round skills in global management, along with 360° expertise ranging from product design to distribution. Edouard Meylan officially started his duties on 1 April 2013, but was already actively involved in the company earlier in 2013. He will be supported by the invaluable experience of Daniel Zimmermann, Executive Sales Director and a pillar of H. Moser & Cie. Daniel joined the company in 2005 and brings his extensive knowledge of the network, together with his passion for the brand. The management team will also be supported by Yara Ainsworth who joined H. Moser & Cie. as Marketing Manager. Yara brings solid marketing experience, acquired and developed at IWC and Swarovski, and which ensures that she has an overview of all sectors of marketing and communication. The task of re-launching H. Moser & Cie. has been entrusted to this highly complementary team, with the objective of giving the brand a ber, more clearly defined and sustainable image.
Key values behind the vision

Like Heinrich Moser, who transformed the town of Schaffhausen into a dynamic industrial location, Edouard will nurture H. Moser & Cie.'s roots in this region, with due respect for the company's traditions and history. "My aim is to develop H. Moser & Cie. as a benchmark brand and manufacture, whilst retaining the elegance and subtlety that has been integral to its success to date. In the long term, I hope we will become an alternative to the big watchmaking brands, while bringing a touch of ingenuity. Today, our team is in start-up mode with a dynamic, proactive approach."

Rendezvous with H. Moser & Cie. in Basel to meet the new team and appraise the first results.