Watches of Switzerland leadership team changes as COO retires

By

Sandra Halliday

Published
Jan 7, 2020

Watches of Switzerland has restructured its top management team due to the impending retirement of its COO Tony Broderick. The executive has been with the firm for more than 40 years, having joined Goldsmiths back in 1979, and has been a director since 2000. He became COO in 2009.

Given his long service, his departure is a big deal for the company that has been growing strongly in recent periods. Its CEO Brian Duffy acknowledged this with a glowing tribute to him as he released the news of his retirement.

So what happens now? Well, the outgoing executive won't be leaving until April and up until that point will continue to focus on both the UK and US arms of the business.

But as a consequence of his resignation, the company has promoted Craig Bolton to executive director, UK. It's a new role and means him overseeing the UK business, including stores, its wider operations, its strategy and brand partnerships.

Meanwhile, David Hurley will continue to lead the US division in his role as executive vice-president there. Both he and Bolton will now report directly to Brian Duffy.

It means there won't be seismic change at the company following the chief operating officer's departure with Hurley already carrying out his role and Bolton having worked for the firm for 14 years. Duffy said that under Bolton's leadership, Goldsmiths and Mappin & Webb have gone from strength to strength.