Lionel a Marca joined the Swatch Group almost 30 years ago and has been working at the Maison since 2019. His commitment and impressive skills across all areas of watchmaking saw him appointed to the Executive Boards of Blancpain in 2004 and Harry Winston in 2014. In 2019, he also joined the Extended Executive Board of the Swatch Group.
Now, Mr a Marca is placing all of his fine horology passion and experience at the service of Breguet. He will be taking over the operational management under the presidency of Marc A. Hayek, with whom he has worked closely for over 20 years. “The appointment of Lionel a Marca, a watchmaker in the purest sense of the word at a Maison of Breguet’s prestige, marks a new chapter in its history,” noted Marc A. Hayek. “I know that he will put all of his energy into continuing the work started by my grandfather since the takeover in 1999, while also keeping the pioneering spirit of its founder alive.”
Lionel A Marca
Heading the House of Breguet since 2021, Lionel a Marca is a watchmaker through and through. Born in Porrentruy (Switzerland) in 1967, it was only natural that he should turn to watchmaking. After all, both originate from the beautiful Jura region.
Following a watchmaking and repair apprenticeship and several years gaining experience, he joined the Swatch Group in 1992, at Frédéric Piguet located in the Vallée de Joux. It was here that he familiarized himself with the constraints of production. His career path subsequently took him to the ETA Manufacture Horlogère, where he helped develop and improve several watchmaking complications. He went on to assume new roles within the Swatch Group. He worked as a consultant for different companies within the Group, namely in the areas of quality control and implementing new production lines. It was during one such task that he crossed paths with Marc A. Hayek, the current President of Breguet and Blancpain, where he has remained to this day.
For nearly 20 years, Mr a Marca has contributed to the success of the brand located in Le Brassus, alongside its President and CEO, Marc A. Hayek. Indeed, he has implemented Hayek’s visionary ideas of creating new products. With this experience under his belt, in 2019, he joined the Extended Executive Board of the Swatch Group, which is in charge of the House of Breguet and companies that produce dials.
If today Lionel a Marca is one of the rare watchmakers at the helm of a renowned watch brand, then he will undoubtedly be able to steer Breguet towards the brightest of futures on the eve of its 250th anniversary. He will do so while respecting the watchmaking heritage and visionary spirit of both the Maison’s founder and the Hayek family, especially that of Nicolas G. Hayek and Marc A. Hayek who preceded him in this role.
