As the consequence of a strong and successful relationship with the Group’s owners - and working closely with the Chairman and Board - Oryx undertook the complex and challenging task of recruiting a new CEO to spearhead the reinvigoration and rejuvenation of this iconic brand. Based in the US with global responsibility for a range of subsidiary brands and businesses, there was a very clear desire to recruit a different profile of CEO; somebody from outside the network of the typical Manhattan-based headhunters, somebody who could really connect with the brand and work with the Board to deliver long-term, sustainable growth in an incredibly challenging market.
We conducted an extensive, worldwide search, investigating global businesses with a strong brand heritage and similarly complex routes to market. The result was the appointment of Tobias Reiss-Schmidt, a German national living in the US, who joined Timex with an incredibly strong background in consumer brands such as Adidas and Rockport. Tobias has made a huge impact on the business already, refining its product range, developing its retail offering and delivering growth across all its divisions.
The thoroughness of our research, and the strength of the candidates we were able to attract, led to the subsequent appointment of a Group VP of Advanced Concepts, who is now leading Timex’s development of new, innovative designs and wearable technology.
