Jean-Daniel Pasche, President of the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry (FH)

Your time as head of the FH is coming to an end in December. How are you feeling as the big day approaches, after 30 years of service to the Swiss watch industry?

I’m preparing myself for this milestone and the prospect of no longer coming into work every day at Rue d’Argent 6 in Biel/Bienne, where the FH has its headquarters. Of course, I’ll still be available to help out with the transition until I take my final leave at the General Meeting on 27 June 2024. For the time being, I prefer to keep quiet about my assessment of the last 30 years, because I’m still hard at work until December, preparing the 2024 budget and objectives, chairing official bodies, dealing with various issues, implementing changes and maintaining contacts abroad.

What will be your stand-out memories from the past three decades?

I’d rather not go into too much detail today, but what I’ll remember most will be the opportunities I’ve had through my work to meet people both within the watch industry and outside it. It has been, and still is, a source of pride to be able to represent Swiss watchmaking.

Are you confident about the future of the Swiss watch industry?

Now this is a subject where I don’t need to hold back: here and now I can express my confidence in the future of our sector. We know that consumers will always want to treat themselves, and Swiss watches meet those expectations. Our watch industry has some major assets: tradition, innovation, know-how, brand diversity and value, reputation, high-quality training, and Switzerland’s political and economic stability. Of course, there will always be ups and downs, as there have been for over 400 years, but like the Swiss economy in general, our industry knows how to adapt and show resilience.