Manfredi Jewels owner Roberto Chiappelloni is being joined by his daughter, Bianca, in the family firm.
She will be a shareholder and managing partner of Manfedi’s recently expanded showroom in New Canaan, Connecticut, which sells Rolex and Tudor watches alongside an extensive range of fine and bridal jewelry.
Breaking the news to WatchPro this week, Mr Chiappelloni is visibly delighted at the development “It is beyond my dreams that she will join us full time as a part-owner of the New Canaan operation,” he says.
Ms Chiappelloni is leaving a career as a high-flying attorney with a major New York law firm to join her parents’ family business in the affluent and picturesque Connecticut towns of Greenwich and New Canaan.
According to Mr Chiappelloni, she grew up in and around Manfredi stores, regularly traveling to Switzerland for the major shows and buying trips. She was also part of the team in the early days at Hodinkee and worked at Richemont in marketing for Montblanc.
But she was always encouraged to make her own choices and pursued her dream of working in law through college, with a scholarship to law school and becoming an attorney who now specialises in mergers and acquisitions.
“My daughter has been very independent her entire life and become a very successful attorney. I am sure she is going to be just as successful in this business,” Mr Manfredi says.
A solid succession plan is becoming increasingly important for luxury watch retailers because brands want to know customers can build relationships over generations with a store’s owners.
Brands including Patek Philippe have openly discussed succession as a factor in determining whether or not to work with a retail partner.