====== Kern, Georges ======
**Georges Kern** is a German watchmaking executive best known as CEO of [[Breitling]] and formerly of [[IWC]].

===== Biography =====
Georges Kern was born in Düsseldorf, Germany in [[1965]] and studied in Strasbourg and St. Gallen. After working at Kraft Foods from [[1989]], Kern joined [[TAG Heuer]] in [[1992]] just as the renaissance of mechanical watchmaking was taking hold. He joined the [[Richemont Group]] in [[2000]] and became CEO of [[IWC]] in [[2002]], tasked to develop the newly-acquired brand beyond the technical watch market.

By [[2011]], Kern was named Head of Watchmaking for [[Richemont]] and also named manager of [[Roger Dubuis]] and [[Baume & Mercier]]. Control of the former was transferred to [[Pontroué, Jean-Marc|Jean-Marc Pontroué]] in [[2012]]. In 15 years, Kern increased sales for IWC ten times over, and was highly respected for his energy and vision.

Kern moved to [[Breitling]] when it was acquired from the Schneider family by CVC Partners in March [[2017]]. He was replaced at IWC by [[Grainger-Herr, Christoph|Christoph Grainger-Herr]]. At Breitling, Kern focused on rebuilding the brand's sales in Asia and sharpening focus on the model lines. These are organized according to the theme of land ([[Breitling Transocean|Transocean]]), sea ([[Breitling Superocean|Superocean]]), and air ([[Breitling Navitimer|Navitimer]]).


{{tag>Biographies IWC Richemont Breitling}}