And that is what I’ve all the time beloved about him. He is not like the opposite guys – and AP is not like the opposite manufacturers. And sure, François and I am going approach again. Should you watch the video, I’m joyful to confess that it was he who, whereas CEO of APNA, gave Hodinkee its first significant promoting spend. It was AP, below his steering, that first introduced me inside a watch manufacturing unit in Switzerland. In some methods, I realized what excessive watchmaking was by way of AP, and not directly, by way of François. In 2012, we hosted an evening celebrating 40 years of Royal Oak collectively (watch the recap / picture report right here – anybody who’s featured within the pictures, DM me as a result of I might like to purchase you a drink for attending a Hodinkee occasion after I dressed that poorly), and although we might fallen out of contact whereas every of our corporations grew to heights we might not thought attainable nor anticipated, the respect by no means wavered. I really like AP to at the present time – sure, an enormous a part of it’s due to the watches themselves, however these watches do not come to life with out François. I have been requested loads about what I need for François of if I do know the place he is headed. I do not know the place he is headed, however as a buddy stated not too long ago, “My hope: that he stays in watches. A class caught in impartial wants him.” I could not agree extra.
Wherever he’s headed, if it is in watches or not, I can promise you that wherever he lands, that firm, and the group that surrounds it, won’t ever be boring. That it is going to be that a lot richer, extra dynamic, and extra enjoyable as a result of François is in it. And I simply can’t wait to see what he does subsequent.
