President of the Philippe Charriol Group

Passionate, ambitious, instinctive: against everybody’s advice, Philippe Charriol created his own company in 1983. He was 40 years’ old at the time. Twenty-four years later, Charriol is a successful world-renowned brand.

If he had listened to the advice of those around him in the early 1980s, Philippe Charriol would never have set up his own company. He chose to ignore the pessimists.

When launching his brand in 1983, Philippe Charriol began by doing exactly the opposite of what others were doing. Rather than first making a name for himself on the Place Vendôme in Paris, or in Switzerland, and thus building a reputation before spreading out towards the world at large, he settled in Geneva – the historic cradle of watchmaking – and chose to start off by conquering a whole continent: Asia. The success achieved both in Japan and in South-East Asia enabled him subsequently to establish a significant presence on the United States and Middle East markets and finally to assert his brand worldwide.

Philippe Charriol was 40 when he left his job as executive director of a prestigious watch and jewellery company to found his own company. Ambitious, self-confident, provocative by nature and a connoisseur of fine arts and motor-racing, this Marseille-born entrepreneur was perfectly acquainted with the luxury world and consumer expectations. He was aware of the remarkable knowledge of prestige brands among up-and-coming generations, particularly in Asia, and of their immense respect for fine objects crafted in harmony with traditional forms of know-how. This enabled him to anticipate the explosion that was to be witnessed on these markets by all players in the luxury trade. The Charriol would therefore assert itself in this segment.

Inspired by his passionate interest in history, painting, sculpture and architecture, Philippe Charriol created several private Foundations in Asia over twenty years ago, dedicated to promoting contemporary art by giving many young Asian artists a chance to shine.

While Philippe Charriol launched his brand when he turned 40, at the age of 50 he decided to fulfil another passion: motor-racing. More motivated than ever, he continues to drive his Lamborghini Diablo on European circuits, taking part in the FIA GT Championship, the Championnat de France Grand Tourisme, of which he has been French Champion in GT3, as well as the Andros Trophy. “I am often the ‘senior driver’ ”, jokes Philippe Charriol , but I still win! Paul Newman took part in the Daytona 24 Hours race at the age of 78. That’s my long-term target!”