Guillaume de Seynes belongs to the 6th generation of the Hermès family – he is a cousin of Axel Dumas, CEO of the family-owned group. He oversees the group’s production activities, including the craft workshops and manufactures, and the company’s watchmaking arm Hermès Horloger. After being appointed General Manager of La Montre Hermès SA in 1999, Guillaume de Seynes moved to Switzerland and began the process of integrating the watchmaking trades and professions, so as to eventually make the branch completely autonomous. He became President of La Montre Hermès SA in 2005.
In that capacity, Guillaume de Seynes opened negotiations with Vaucher Manufacture Fleurier, which led to Hermès taking a 25% stake in the business in 2006. This was followed by the purchase and subsequent integration of Natéber SA, a dial manufacturer based in La Chaux-de-Fonds. In parallel, the group bought Joseph Erard SA, a watch case specialist. Together, these entities now form a single consolidated manufacture known as Les Ateliers d’Hermès Horloger.
Guillaume de Seynes is an avid student of history, and his love for beautiful objects and fine craftsmanship have been a guiding thread throughout his career. When he joined Hermès, a company founded by his ancestors in 1837, he was able to combine two passions: that of a storied brand with the design of exquisite products that embody the innovative spirit and timelessness of the company. As well as being President of La Montre Hermès, John Lobb shoes and the Saint-Louis glassworks, he is also general manager of Hermès International, Manufacturing and Equity Investments. His role is to manage the entire manufacturing branch of Hermès, which at the end of 2019 represented some 5200 artisans.
A fierce advocate for the values of the luxury industries, Guillaume de Seynes is also President of the Comité Colbert, an institution founded in 1954 to promote the French luxury industry. In fact, he was unanimously elected by the committee – a first in its history. A graduate of Paris II Panthéon Assas, IEP Paris and ESSEC, Guillaume de Seynes is also a Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur.
*On the occasion of GMT Magazine and WorldTempus' 20th anniversary, we have embarked on the ambitious project of summarising the last 20 years in watchmaking in The Millennium Watch Book, a big, beautifully laid out coffee table book. This article is an extract. The Millennium Watch Book is available on www.the-watch-book.com, in French and English, with a 10% discount if you use the following code: WT2021.
