On April 1, 2020, a new company, Grand Seiko Europe S.A.S., will be established in Paris as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Seiko Watch Corporation, Tokyo. It will be responsible for the sales and marketing of the Grand Seiko brand in all of continental Europe and it will provide the brand with the solid foundation, resources and investment that will ensure its future growth in both retail and wholesale distribution channels. In line with this brand-building strategy, it will also manage the new Grand Seiko Boutique in the Place Vendôme in Paris which opens in March this year.
The President will be Frédéric Bondoux, who has recently joined Grand Seiko. Frédéric has long experience in the luxury watch market and is looking forward to the challenge of taking Grand Seiko forward and consolidating its position as a major player in its sector in Europe. Frédéric and his new team will be based in a new office in Paris. The creation of Grand Seiko Europe S.A.S. will bring decision making about every aspect of the implementation of the brand’s strategy closer to the European market and allow Seiko Watch Corporation to make a major new marketing investment in the brand.
Grand Seiko Europe S.A.S. will be supported by the experience of Seiko Watch Corporation, under the guidance of its Deputy Chief Operating Officer, Akio Naito who, in addition to his existing responsibilities, will have the role of new company’s chairman.
“The creation of this new company is another important step forward for Grand Seiko. I am delighted by the progress that Grand Seiko has made in the past few years in Europe and I think that the time is right to build on this momentum, with the boutique in Place Vendôme and with this new company. I believe that we are at the start of a new golden era for Grand Seiko.” said Shinji Hattori, Chairman and CEO of Seiko Watch Corporation.