At the annual financial year-end press conference at Swatch Group’s headquarters in Bienne, Peter Steiger is, literally, Nick Hayek’s right hand man.
But, after 35 years of loyal and distinguished service to Swatch Group, Mr Steiger has decided to take, in the words of a note to the stock market, “well-deserved retirement”.
Mr Steiger left a career in multinationals including Shell and Philips to join Swatch Group in 1989 as head of finance and administration and has held senior finance and logistics positions, centrally and within various brands including Swatch and Longines.
He has been a member of the executive group management board since 2019 with duties, among others, of fielding any tricky financial questions that come the way of Mr Hayek during his press conference.
“Swatch Group expresses its heartfelt thanks for his outstanding commitment, enthusiasm and dynamism during all those years. Mr Steiger will continue to take on individual mandates for the Group,” the company records.
In the same filing from Swatch Group, the company has announced that its Executive Group Management Board will welcome two new members: Damiano Casafina, CEO of the production company ETA, and Sylvain Dolla, CEO of Tissot and member of the Group’s Extended Group Management Board.
In addition, three new members will join the Extended Group Management Board: Roland von Keith, CEO of Glashütte Original, Stephen De Lucchi, country manager of Swatch Group Hong Kong SAR and Swatch Group Macao SAR, and Alain Villard, CEO of the Swatch brand.