After three-plus years and 14 great stories, we’re kicking off 2024 with a little look back to some of our favorite Leadership Insights features to date. If you’re a recent convert to The Insider, why not dive in and catch up…

We couldn’t have been clearer with the labelling of our headline feature series when we launched The Insider in late 2020. We promised leadership insights and we think we’ve delivered, in terms of both the insights offered and the profile of those offering them!

Here’s a look back to four of our favorite features, starting with the piece that helped to launch The Insider to the world…

Breitling’s Georges Kern provides a perfect take-off

An approach out of the blue, from a publication which didn’t even exist at that point… we’ll be forever grateful to Breitling CEO Georges Kern for taking a chance on The Insider and giving us our very first Leadership Insights interview.

It was exactly what we hoped for, too – frank, honest and insightful. The piece has been among our most-read over the years and still appears on the first page of a Google search for man and company.

Since we published the article, Breitling has continued the journey mapped out by Georges in our conversation. In March 2023 it was reported that the brand had vaulted into the Swiss watchmaking Top Ten on the back of sales that had surged to CHF 860 million.

• Revisit the article here: https://www.glion.edu/magazine/history-revisited-how-georges-kern-is-transforming-breitling/

Yes she can: Maud Bailly makes her mark

One of Insider Editor Martin Green’s all-time favorite interviews saw Maud Bailly open up on some of the challenges facing a senior female executive building a leadership career, while also telling us more about her efforts to level the playing field for diverse talents seeking careers in hospitality.

Since our interview, Maud has been promoted to become CEO Sofitel, MGallery & Emblems and member of Accor’s Luxury & Lifestyle Executive Committee.

And on March 12 this year Maud will be part of a stellar all-female panel at the 3rd edition of the Excellence by Vendôm conference presented by Glion. Together with Marie Sermadiras, CEO of Cosfibel, and Anne-Charlotte Bellanger, CEO of Delcourt Collection & Collection Particulière, she will be discussing the importance of gender representation in context of the business benefits that come from a greater diversity of backgrounds and profiles.

You can discover more about this – and the three other Excellence by Vendôm panels – by clicking here.
https://www.linkedin.com/events/excellencebyvend-m6935073925823389696/comments/

• Revisit the original article with Maud here: https://www.glion.edu/magazine/diversity-passion-for-equality-maud-bailly-force-for-change-in-hospitality/

Simone Gibertoni: leading on longevity

Our third selection in this special look-back through the archives is a man for whom looking back is never on the menu! Simone Gibertoni, CEO of Clinique La Prairie, proved a wonderful interviewee, who brought all of his vaunted “positive energy” to the conversation.

Simone is renowned as an innovative thinker and he’s proven this throughout his business career, most recently in his work with Clinique La Prairie (CLP). In our interview, Simone referenced the creation of Longevity Hubs in 2020; now the plans are moving further ahead, with new Hubs opening and ultimate ambitions for some 40 to be operating worldwide.

Even more excitingly, CLP has unveiled plans for its own Health Resorts, with a debut property set to open in China later this year, followed by another in Amaala, the wellness-focused Saudi giga project, in 2025.

• Revisit our conversation with Simone here: https://www.glion.edu/magazine/the-luxury-of-longevity-a-conversation-with-simone-gibertoni/

Harrods sparkle rubs off on The Insider

Mix a straight-talking Englishman, a world-famous luxury brand, and the space our Leadership Insights section gives an interview to breathe, and we have the recipe for our biggest ‘hit’ to date in terms of reach and clicks.

Michael Ward took the reins at Harrods in 2005 and subsequently set out on a mission to restore the “top people’s store” to its luxurious former glory. Our interview allowed him to tell the inside story of that process, as well as giving him the opportunity to unveil more about Harrods’ future plans for expanding its global presence.

If you search his name alongside that of Harrods, our interview ranks number one on Google and it continues to drive new readers to The Insider. If you are one of those, you are very welcome on board!

• Find our conversation with Michael here: https://www.glion.edu/magazine/michael-ward-harrods-luxury-retailing/