News After opening subsidiaries in Italy and Japan, the Sowind group, which includes Girard-Perregaux and Daniel JeanRichard, opened its third subsidiary on 1 February. Called Tradema of America, it is managed by Mr Ron Jackson, who is assisted by a staff that has actively participated in the recent development of the two aforementioned watch brands in the United States. The president is Mr Luigi Macaluso, who is also president of the Sowind group. Besides Girard-Perregaux and Daniel JeanRichard, the group comprises GP Manufacture SA, a manufacturer of watch movements, EMG SA, a manufacturer of watch components, and Phoenix Marketing SA, a specialist in marketing management.
Founded in 1791 in Geneva, Girard-Perregaux is one of the flagships of the Swiss watch industry. Its annual production of approximately 16,000 watches is selectively distributed on over 60 markets. Thanks to an extremely active Research and Development Department, the brand has made a name for itself with technically sophisticated watch collections with highly recognisable designs.
The Daniel JeanRichard brand, named after a watchmaker who was instrumental in developing Switzerland's watch culture, is distinguished by a collection of refined watches with a resolutely innovative style. Currently distributed on around twenty markets and enjoying a period of rapid expansion, the brand combines traditional savoir-faire with modern styling, making its products particularly attractive.
The decision to create a subsidiary in North America grew out of the positive growth enjoyed by the Sowind group's brands over the past few years and the group's determination to draw closer to the American market.
April 10, 2000