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t 48 years of age, Mr. Ricardo Guadalupe is already on top of the luxury watchmaking industry as the global CEO of world-renowned brand Hublot. With more than 25 years of experience in fine watchmaking, Ricardo is leading the brand to all new level of innovation and technological revolution.
In the vast and complex world of horology, it all comes down to dedication and undying passion. Born and raised in Neuchâtel, Switzerland, Ricardo spent his earlier days pondering the elements of Swiss luxury watchmaking, growing more and more impressed at the depth and intensity of the industry.
After receiving education in a Swiss Business School, the Spanish-descendant prodigy departed to California to take a course at the University of Los Angeles. By the time he finished the course at 22, with a degree and successful time spent in America behind him, he decided to return to Switzerland to start his professional career.
Ricardo started out to join a major fashion label whose watchmaking endeavor was just beginning. As a Product Manager in the small division located at Geneva, Ricardo saw the position positively as an opportunity to learn and to conquer every aspect of the business: creation, design, production, procurement, development of the distribution network and marketing. For seven years he constantly gained significant understanding of the advanced know-how of luxury watchmaking, whilst developing an aesthetic sensibility for design and creation essential for his career in the long run.
In 1994, the already vastly-knowledgeable young professional joined Blancpain, a luxury watch brand bought two years earlier by the Swatch Group. In spearheading the rebuilding of the brand, Ricardo gained precious insight into the technical knowledge of creating, developing and producing Movements. Appointed International Sales and Marketing Director of Blancpain in 1997, he left the company to join Hublot in 2001 after 8 years, with over 100 million in turnover to his credit.
The Philosophy
“Hublot goes beyond the people. The brand is really the star, and will always remain so, regardless of who’s running what.” Ricardo humbly declared when asked what it was like to replace his predecessor Jean-Claude Biver, a prominent figure in the watchmaking industry, as CEO. Although co-responsible for turning the brand into a genuine success story in which the Big Bang, King Power, Classic Fusion and Masterpieces became the cornerstones of, Ricardo refused to take any credit.
Ricardo reveled that he knew his destiny lies in the watchmaking industry when he first began his career. “It was not when I was 8 years old and I immediately knew. Back then I wanted to be an astronaut.” With a light chuckle that seemingly evoked his younger days, he continued, “But then as I grew up and saw firsthand the workings of the watches industry, I saw that as both a challenge and a promising path, so that’s when I knew.”
Ricardo stressed that in order to be great at whatever you do, it is important to pour your whole soul into it, as is evident in his own successful career. “I think you have to find something in which you are passionate about, which is not always easy, of course. But if you have a passion, and it is somehow reasonably possible to do that for a living, there is where your success lies.” The best thing, according to Mr. Ricardo Guadalupe, is to make something work out of what you are passionate about.
Realizing that around-the-clock work without recreation is not a healthy way to live, Ricardo shared what he like to do to unwind. “I cook.” With a sincere smile, he continued to explain, “Gastronomy and watchmaking are similar in a certain higher level. They both require quality in product and creativity. I usually try to find good ingredients made with passion and love. When you have this, about 70% of your cooking is done.”
Art of Fusion
Hublot is a highly successful brand ever since its creation in 1980. The word itself means “porthole” in French, and this symbolizes the core DNA of the brand. From watches complications and revolutionary materials to world-class collaborations such as FIFA World Cup and Ferrari, Hublot characterizes itself through the “Art of Fusion” philosophy, bringing tradition into the future.
Today, with the new high-tech Hublot watch manufacture, building on the impressive growth of the brand, the story of their philosophy is still being written with the combination of exceptional materials like ceramic, carbon, platinum, tantalum, tungsten, titanium, rubber with conventional materials such as gold, steel, diamonds and precious stones.
After a successful presentation in Baselworld 2013, highlighted by the new Big Bang Unico with in-house movement, Ricardo told us that the future of Hublot is in manufacturing more and more signature watches with powered by in-house movements, as the brand remain true to the Swiss watchmaking tradition and its own “Art of Fusion”. l
