A Few Minutes with Mario Peserico

Rugby player, sports journalist - and watch executive!  Once again I've learned that there is more to someone than their job title!  And now, a few minutes with Mario Peserico -

Courtesy of Eberhard 

Tempus Fugit - What was your first watch?  Was it a gift?  Is there a story behind it?

Mario Peserico - It was an heirloom from my grandfather, a vintage hand-winding watch.

TF - When you were a boy, what did you want to be when you "grew up"?

MP - I always dreamt of being a Carabiniere, the Italian national Military Police, one of the corps with the highest sense of honor; this was my dream until I was 18.

TF - Where did you go to school, what did you study exactly?

MP - After the high school I attended the Bocconi University in Milan where I studied Economics, I then decided to change my course of studies and enrolled in the Political Science faculty.

TF - What are some of the things you did prior to entering the watch industry?

MP - For a few years I was a bit of a sports journalist, writing rugby reports for an important Italian newspaper, “Il Giornale”; at the same time I was also the match commentator for a local Milan TV station.  I have been playing rugby for 15 years and I believe it has really helped shape my personality.

TF - What got you started in the watch industry in the first place?

MP - It was 1993, and Eberhard was looking for someone to handle the external relations and the the dealer contacts.   I decided to leave the job I had at the time to join Eberhard.

TF - Why Eberhard?

MP - My father was a watch collector, and he had an Eberhard model in his collection. This made it easier to make the decision, as it was a Brand already known and respected in my family.

TF - What is it that makes Eberhard special?

MP - Eberhard is a family Company with a great deal of respect for their customers and for the dealers.  Moreover, Eberhard possesses a DNA second to none when it comes to technical evolution.  It is also a great place to work at, a place where producing ideas does not provoke any rivalry.

TF - I realize it might be difficult, but what is your favorite Eberhard?

MP - It is really tough, I like almost all of them, from the historical pieces to the current collections. Having contributed to the creation of them all makes it even more difficult to make a choice. I want to surprise you by choosing  the “120^th Anniversary” model in gold with the brown dial: innovation, elegance and proportion of size.

TF - What are some of the challenges facing Eberhard?

MP - We are proud to have remained independent ever since our foundation, but markets are definitely more and more globalized these days, and it is not easy for a company that is not a "group member" to invest in very expensive territories such as China or the USA.  At the same time, this continuous challenge produces ideas, innovation, and a creative approach that often the “big boys” don’t have.

TF - What is Eberhard's strongest market?

MP - Historically, Italy has always been very important in terms of turnover size and also of consumer taste.  A watch that is successful in Italy always promises to be so in the other markets as well.

TF - How do you see Eberhard developing in the coming years?

MP - Always focusing on the same criteria: identity, technical developments, creativity and service to clients.  Distribution is changing and this is another important aspect, but we will always consider the multi brand shops as our main supporters.

TF  - What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

MP- I live in the country side with many animals and I like spending my leisure time with them, particularly the dogs.  I also try to remain fit by exercising as much as I can over the week-ends (jogging, cycling, paddling, horse riding).  I like contemporary art very much, as well as reading.  And I love food and wine.

TF - If you weren't working with Eberhard, what do you think you might be doing?

MP - I do not see my self anywhere else and I like the watches so I could not be happier.The only different thing I would do, once retired, is living in the country side or in the mountains with no noise and no technology

TF - What advice do you have for the next Mario Peserico out there?

MP - Be unassuming, work hard, and respect others.