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{{Short description|21st-century Swiss entrepreneur}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
| name = Maximilian Büsser
| name = Maximilian Büsser
| image = Maximilian_Busser_2.jpg
| image = Maximilian Busser 2.jpg
| caption = Maximilian Büsser
| caption = Maximilian Büsser
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1967|01|21|df=yes}}
| birth_date =
| birth_place = [[Milan]], [[Italy]]
| birth_place =
| education =
| residence = [[Dubai]], [[United Arab Emirates]]
| occupation = 2005-present Founder, CEO and Chief Creative Officer of MB&F <br /> 1998–2005 CEO of [[Harry Winston, Inc.]] Rare Timepieces <br /> 1991–1998 Senior executive at [[Jaeger-LeCoultre]]
| education = [[École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne]], graduated in 1991 with Masters in Microtechnology engineering
| parents =
| occupation = 2005-present Founder, CEO and Chief Creative Officer of [[MB&F]] <br> 1998-2005 CEO of [[Harry Winston, Inc.]] Rare Timepieces <br> 1991-1998 Senior executive at [[Jaeger-LeCoultre]]
| known_for =
| parents = Mario Büsser(1922-2001) <br> and Dinoo Cowasji Büsser
| known_for= Founding MB&F, founding M.A.D. Gallery mechanical art galleries, and creating Opus collection for [[Harry Winston, Inc.]] Rare Timepieces
}}
}}


'''Maximilian Büsser''' is a Swiss entrepreneur and founder of the avant-garde boutique watch brand [[MB&F]] (2005–present). Prior to MB&F he was the CEO of [[Harry Winston, Inc.]] Rare Timepieces (1998 - 2005) and a senior manager at [[Jaeger-LeCoultre]] (1991 - 1998). Büsser has lived in Dubai since 2014.<ref name="hautetime.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.hautetime.com/one-on-one-mb-f-ceo-maximilian-bu-sser-celebrates-10-years-of-creativity/71977/?market=america|title=One on One: MB&F CEO Maximilian Büsser Celebrates 10 Years of Creativity|website=Haute Time|year=2016}}</ref>
'''Maximilian Büsser''' is a Swiss businessman and founder of the watch brand [[Maximilian Büsser and Friends|MB&F]]. Prior to his work at MB&F he was the CEO of [[Harry Winston, Inc.|Harry Winston Rare Timepieces]] (1998–2005) and worked at [[Jaeger-LeCoultre]] (1991–1998). Büsser has lived in Dubai since 2014.<ref name="hautetime.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.hautetime.com/one-on-one-mb-f-ceo-maximilian-bu-sser-celebrates-10-years-of-creativity/71977/?market=america|title=One on One: MB&F CEO Maximilian Büsser Celebrates 10 Years of Creativity|website=Haute Time|year=2016}}</ref>


== Jaeger-LeCoultre (1991–1998) ==
==Early years==
Büsser studied engineering at [[École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne|EPFL]] and received his diploma in microtechnology in 1991.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2012-08-13|title=Maximilian Büsser (MT’91)|url=https://www.epflalumni.ch/fr/diplome-du-mois/|access-date=2021-03-30|website=EPFL Alumni|language=fr-FR}}</ref> Büsser left university with the intention of working his way up the ranks of a large international company like [[Nestlé]] or [[Procter & Gamble]], but was convinced to join the then relatively small Swiss watch brand [[Jaeger-LeCoultre]], which was then struggling to rebuild after the [[Quartz crisis]], by Henry-John Belmont, then CEO of [[Jaeger-LeCoultre]], with the words, "Do you want to be one among 200,000 in a big corporation, or do you want to be among the four or five of us who can save this beautiful company?"<ref name="nytimes.com">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/19/fashion/maximilian-busser-this-is-my-life.html|title=Maximilian Büsser: 'This Is My Life|newspaper=The New York Times|year=2016}}</ref>
Büsser was born in [[Milan]], Italy, on 21 January 1967. His father, Mario Büsser (1922 – 2001) was a Swiss diplomat, and his mother, Dinoo Cowasji Büsser (1934 - 2018) an Indian national. His parents had met in Bombay and after marrying moved to Milan. In 1971 (when four years old), the Büsser family moved to Switzerland, first to [[Vevey]] (Swiss home of [[Charlie Chaplin]]) and then a small village called La Croix sur Lutry (in the countryside north of Lausanne). In 1985 Büsser moved to Pully (near Lausanne), where he lived until 1998.


Büsser credits Belmont and Günther Bluemlein (who helped relaunch [[International Watch Company]] (IWC), [[Jaeger-LeCoultre]], and [[A. Lange & Söhne]] as playing large roles in his early career development.<ref name="luxeinacity.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.luxeinacity.com/maximilian-busser-master-horologist|title=Maximilian Busser – Master Horologist|website=luxe.in.a.city|year=2013}}</ref><ref name="jckonline.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.jckonline.com/2016/02/19/jck-asksmaximilian-busser|title=JCK Asks…Maximilian Büsser |website=JCK Online|year=2011}}</ref>
==Education==
Büsser graduated from the [[École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne]] (EPFL) in 1991 with a master's degree in Microtechnology engineering (Masters en microtechnique).


== Harry Winston Rare Timepieces (1998–2005) ==
== Jaeger-LeCoultre (1991 - 1998) ==
In 1998 Büsser was headhunted from [[Jaeger-LeCoultre]]<ref>{{Cite web|date=March 2019|url=https://www.theceomagazine.com/business/retail-wholesale/design-time/|title="Keeping time is not the point": Maximilian Büsser|language=en|journal=The CEO Magazine}}</ref> to become CEO of [[Harry Winston, Inc.]], based in Geneva. At the time, the firm was still controlled by the Winston family.<ref>{{Cite web|date=December 2000|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/12/22/nyregion/new-partners-hope-to-expand-harry-winston.html/|title=New Partners Hope to Expand Harry Winston|language=en|journal=The New York Times}}</ref>
While Büsser left university with the intention of working his way up the ranks of a large international company like [[Nestlé]] or [[Procter & Gamble]]. However, he was convinced to join the then relatively small Swiss watch brand [[Jaeger-LeCoultre]], which was then struggling to rebuild after the [[Quartz Crisis]], by Henry-John Belmont, then CEO of [[Jaeger-LeCoultre]], with the words, "Do you want to be one among 200,000 in a big corporation, or do you want to be among the four or five of us who can save this beautiful company?"<ref name="nytimes.com">{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/19/fashion/maximilian-busser-this-is-my-life.html|title=Maximilian Büsser: 'This Is My Life|website=New York Times|year=2016}}</ref>


In his seven years at Harry Winston Rare Timepieces Büsser (bought by [[The Swatch Group]] in 2013) increased revenue from $8 million to $80 million <ref>{{Cite web|date=January 2016|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/19/fashion/maximilian-busser-this-is-my-life.html|title=Maximilian Büsser: 'This Is My Life'|language=en|journal=The New York Times}}</ref> and created the ground-breaking Opus series of ultra-complicated mechanical watches in collaboration with independent watchmakers.<ref name="quillandpad.com">{{cite web|url=http://quillandpad.com/2015/05/20/the-harry-winston-opus-series-a-complete-overview-from-opus-1-through-opus-13-2/|title=The Harry Winston Opus Series: A Complete Overview From Opus 1 Through Opus 13|website=Quill & Pad|year=2015}}</ref>
Büsser worked in a variety of senior management position while at [[Jaeger-LeCoultre]] including Product Manager and Sales & Product Marketing manager.


== MB&F (2005–present) ==
Büsser credits Belmont and Günther Bluemlein (who helped relaunch [[International Watch Company]] (IWC), [[Jaeger-LeCoultre]], and [[A. Lange & Söhne]] as playing large roles in his early career development.<ref name="luxeinacity.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.luxeinacity.com/maximilian-busser-master-horologist|title=Maximilian Busser – Master Horologist|website=luxe.in.a.city|year=2013}}</ref><ref name="jckonline.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.jckonline.com/2016/02/19/jck-asksmaximilian-busser|title=JCK Asks…Maximilian Büsser |website=JCK Online|year=2011}}</ref>
While at [[Harry Winston, Inc.]] Rare Timepieces Büsser had developed concept-style watches for the Opus series, which motivated him to create his own brand and focus on creating three-dimensional kinetic art that he calls "Horological Machines".<ref name="forbes.com">{{cite web|url=
https://www.forbes.com/sites/jonathonkeats/2015/05/27/mbf-10th-anniversary-maximilian-busser-is-making-outrageous-230000-watches-and-his-business-is-thriving/#3358a2866bb9|title= MB&F's Maximilian Büsser Is Making Outrageous $230,000 Watches -- And His Business Is Thriving|website=Forbes|year=2015}}</ref><ref name="esquireme.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.esquireme.com/style/watches/storyteller-max-busser|title=The storyteller: Max Busser|website=Esquire Middle East|year=2015}}</ref>


Büsser's goal for MB&F (for Maximilian Büsser and Friends) is for the company to remain small enough not to require a middle layer of management, which Büsser feels is detrimental to creativity. To that end he has capped the head count at 20 people and sells his timepieces in the hundreds rather than the thousands, although the majority of the brand's watches sell for upwards of $50,000.<ref name="forbes.com" />
==Harry Winston Rare Timepieces (1998 - 2005)==
<ref name="Robb Report">{{cite web|url=
In 1998 and just 31 years old, Büsser was headhunted from [[Jaeger-LeCoultre]] to become CEO of [[Harry Winston, Inc.]] Rare Timepieces based in Geneva. At the time [[Harry Winston, Inc.]] was still controlled by the Winston family.
http://robbreport.com/watches/qa-controversial-watchmaker-maximilian-busser-reveals-what-makes-him-tick|title= Controversial Watchmaker Maximilian Büsser Reveals What Makes Him Tick|website=Robb Report|year=2015}}</ref>


== M.A.D. Gallery ==
In his seven years at Harry Winston Rare Timepieces Büsser (bought by [[The Swatch Group]] in 2013) increased revenue from $8 million to $80 million and created the ground-breaking Opus series of ultra-complicated mechanical watches in collaboration with independent watchmakers.<ref name="quillandpad.com">{{cite web|url=http://quillandpad.com/2015/05/20/the-harry-winston-opus-series-a-complete-overview-from-opus-1-through-opus-13-2/|title=The Harry Winston Opus Series: A Complete Overview From Opus 1 Through Opus 13|website=Quill & Pad|year=2015}}</ref>
Büsser created the first MB&F M.A.D. Gallery in 2011 in [[Geneva]],<ref name="monochrome-watches.com">{{cite web|url=https://monochrome-watches.com/video-visiting-mbanf-mad-gallery-by-monochrome-watches/|title= Visiting the MB&F M.A.D Gallery, the crazy artistic universe of Max Busser & Friends|website=Monochrome Watches|year=2016}}</ref> Switzerland. "M.A.D." stands for Mechanical Art Devices. Büsser considers his timepieces to be kinetic art<ref>{{Cite web|date=May 2018|url=https://watchjournal.com/all-the-right-moves/|title=Max Büsser’s Accidental Art Gallery Empire|language=en|journal=Watch Journal}}</ref>
and created his own art gallery to display his sculptured Horological Machines in the context of mechanical art by other artists.<ref name="hk.asiatatler.com">{{cite web |url=
https://hk.asiatatler.com/style/watch-robots-madgallery-hong-kong |title= 5 Awesome Mechanical Sculptures You Can't Miss At M.A.D.Gallery|website= Asia Tatler |year= 2019}}</ref>


In addition to [[Geneva]], there are now M.A.D. Galleries in [[Dubai]],<ref name="designdaysdubai.ae">{{cite web|url=http://www.designdaysdubai.ae/news/exhibitors/2016/01/design-days-dubai-in-partnership-with-mbf-mad-gallery/|title= Design Days Dubai in partnership with MB&F M.A.D Gallery|website=Gulf news|year=2016}}</ref> [[Taipei]]<ref name="europastar.com">{{cite web |url=http://www.europastar.com/news/1004087420-mb-f-opens-a-second-m-a-d-gallery-in-taipei.html |title= MB&F Second M.A.D.Gallery in Taipei |website= Europa Star Dubai |year= 2015}}</ref> and [[Hong Kong]].<ref name="hk.asiatatler.com"/>
==MB&F (2005 - present)==
While at [[Harry Winston, Inc.]] Rare Timepieces Büsser realized that he derived his greatest pleasure and satisfaction when developing concept-style watches for the Opus series, which motivated him to create his own brand and focus on creating three-dimensional kinetic art that he calls "Horological Machines".
<ref name="forbes.com">{{cite web|url=
https://www.forbes.com/sites/jonathonkeats/2015/05/27/mbf-10th-anniversary-maximilian-busser-is-making-outrageous-230000-watches-and-his-business-is-thriving/#3358a2866bb9|title= MB&F's Maximilian Büsser Is Making Outrageous $230,000 Watches -- And His Business Is Thriving|website=Forbes|year=2015}}</ref>
<ref name="esquireme.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.esquireme.com/style/watches/storyteller-max-busser|title=The storyteller: Max Busser|website=Esquire Middle East|year=2015}}</ref>


== Awards ==
Büsser's goal for [[MB&F]] (for Maximilian Büsser and Friends) is for the company to remain small enough not to require a middle layer of management, which Büsser feels is detrimental to creativity. To that end he has capped the head count at 20 people and sells his timepieces in the hundreds rather than the thousands, although the majority of the brand's watches sell for upwards of $50,000.<ref name="forbes.com"/>
In 2018, Maximilian Büsser was awarded the [[Prix Gaïa]] "Spirit of Enterprise"" in recognition of his creative approach to watchmaking in the design and marketing of his products, and for the innovative way he manages his business."<ref>{{Cite web|date=October 2018|url=https://www.fhs.swiss/eng/2018_10_11_02_Prix_Gaia.html|title=The 2018 Gaïa Prize|language=en|journal=Feberation of the Swiss Watch Industry}}</ref>
<ref name="fRobb Report">{{cite web|url=
http://robbreport.com/watches/qa-controversial-watchmaker-maximilian-busser-reveals-what-makes-him-tick|title= Controversial Watchmaker Maximilian Büsser Reveals What Makes Him Tick|website=Robb Report|year=2015}}</ref>


== Film ==
==M.A.D. Gallery (2011 - present)==
Maximilian Büsser features in the documentary feature film [https://makingtime.film/ Making Time], which also features [[Philippe Dufour]], [[Aldis Hodge]] and [[Nico Cox]].
Büsser created the first [[MB&F]] M.A.D. Gallery in 2011 in [[Geneva]],<ref name="monochrome-watches.com">{{cite web|url=https://monochrome-watches.com/video-visiting-mbanf-mad-gallery-by-monochrome-watches/|title= Visiting the MB&F M.A.D Gallery, the crazy artistic universe of Max Busser & Friends|website=Monochrome Watches|year=2016}}</ref> Switzerland. "M.A.D." stands for Mechanical Art Devices. Büsser considers his timepieces to be kinetic art and created his own art gallery to display his sculptured Horological Machines in the context of mechanical art by other artists from all over the world.


== Personal life ==
The M.A.D. Gallery concept has proved successful and, in addition to Geneva, there are now M.A.D. Galleries in [[Dubai]],<ref name="designdaysdubai.ae">{{cite web|url=http://www.designdaysdubai.ae/news/exhibitors/2016/01/design-days-dubai-in-partnership-with-mbf-mad-gallery/|title= Design Days Dubai in partnership with MB&F M.A.D Gallery|website=Gulf news|year=2016}}</ref> [[Geneva]]<ref name="gulfnews.com">{{cite web|url=http://gulfnews.com/guides/tourists/21-places-you-need-to-add-to-your-ultimate-uae-tourist-checklist-1.1883716#.V73Iu4sROJQ.facebook|title= 21 places you need to add to your ultimate UAE tourist checklist|year=2016}}</ref>, [[Taipei]]<ref name="europastar.com">{{cite web |url=
Maximilian Busser's mother was a [[Parsi]] [[Zoroastrian]] and he credits her for playing a major role in his success.<ref name="Talking Watches">{{cite web|url=
http://www.europastar.com/news/1004087420-mb-f-opens-a-second-m-a-d-gallery-in-taipei.html |title= MB&F - Second M.A.D.Gallery in Taipei |website= Europa Star Dubai |year= 2015}}</ref> and [[Hong Kong]]<ref name="hk.asiatatler.com">{{cite web |url=
https://hk.asiatatler.com/style/watch-robots-madgallery-hong-kong |title= 5 Awesome Mechanical Sculptures You Can't Miss At M.A.D.Gallery|website= Asia Tatler |year= 2019}}</ref> .
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-d_Xef25Hk|title = Talking Watches|website=YouTube|year=2021}}</ref>


==References==
== References ==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}


==External links==
== External links ==
* [http://www.mbandf.com/ MB&F website]
* [http://www.mbandf.com/ MB&F website]
*[http://www.madgallery.ch/ M.A.D.Gallery website]
*[http://www.madgallery.ch/ M.A.D.Gallery website]
* [https://www.luxurysociety.com/en/articles/2019/05/maximilian-busser-mbf-we-dont-want-grow/ Maximilian Büsser on MB&F: “We Don’t Want to Grow'”]
*[https://www.watchtime.com/featured/max-busser-of-mbf-the-watch-is-my-canvas/ Max Büsser of MB&F: “The Watch is My Canvas”]
* [https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/hodinkee-radio-episode-26-maximilian-busser HODINKEE Radio Episode 26: Maximilian Büsser]
*[https://www.watch-around.swiss/max-busser-mbf-watch-around-32-f Maximilian Büsser, MB&F La leçon de créativité]
*[https://www.acollectedman.com/blogs/journal/from-the-bench-max-busser From the Bench: Max Busser]
*[https://podcasts.apple.com/de/podcast/fifth-wrist-radio/id1498839718?i=1000480022532 Max Büsser in Fifth Wrist Radio]


{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2017}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Busser, Max}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Busser, Max}}
[[Category:Swiss chief executives]]
[[Category:Swiss chief executives]]

Latest revision as of 16:23, 11 May 2024

Maximilian Büsser
Maximilian Büsser
Occupation(s)2005-present Founder, CEO and Chief Creative Officer of MB&F
1998–2005 CEO of Harry Winston, Inc. Rare Timepieces
1991–1998 Senior executive at Jaeger-LeCoultre

Maximilian Büsser is a Swiss businessman and founder of the watch brand MB&F. Prior to his work at MB&F he was the CEO of Harry Winston Rare Timepieces (1998–2005) and worked at Jaeger-LeCoultre (1991–1998). Büsser has lived in Dubai since 2014.[1]

Jaeger-LeCoultre (1991–1998)

[edit]

Büsser studied engineering at EPFL and received his diploma in microtechnology in 1991.[2] Büsser left university with the intention of working his way up the ranks of a large international company like Nestlé or Procter & Gamble, but was convinced to join the then relatively small Swiss watch brand Jaeger-LeCoultre, which was then struggling to rebuild after the Quartz crisis, by Henry-John Belmont, then CEO of Jaeger-LeCoultre, with the words, "Do you want to be one among 200,000 in a big corporation, or do you want to be among the four or five of us who can save this beautiful company?"[3]

Büsser credits Belmont and Günther Bluemlein (who helped relaunch International Watch Company (IWC), Jaeger-LeCoultre, and A. Lange & Söhne as playing large roles in his early career development.[4][5]

Harry Winston Rare Timepieces (1998–2005)

[edit]

In 1998 Büsser was headhunted from Jaeger-LeCoultre[6] to become CEO of Harry Winston, Inc., based in Geneva. At the time, the firm was still controlled by the Winston family.[7]

In his seven years at Harry Winston Rare Timepieces Büsser (bought by The Swatch Group in 2013) increased revenue from $8 million to $80 million [8] and created the ground-breaking Opus series of ultra-complicated mechanical watches in collaboration with independent watchmakers.[9]

MB&F (2005–present)

[edit]

While at Harry Winston, Inc. Rare Timepieces Büsser had developed concept-style watches for the Opus series, which motivated him to create his own brand and focus on creating three-dimensional kinetic art that he calls "Horological Machines".[10][11]

Büsser's goal for MB&F (for Maximilian Büsser and Friends) is for the company to remain small enough not to require a middle layer of management, which Büsser feels is detrimental to creativity. To that end he has capped the head count at 20 people and sells his timepieces in the hundreds rather than the thousands, although the majority of the brand's watches sell for upwards of $50,000.[10] [12]

[edit]

Büsser created the first MB&F M.A.D. Gallery in 2011 in Geneva,[13] Switzerland. "M.A.D." stands for Mechanical Art Devices. Büsser considers his timepieces to be kinetic art[14] and created his own art gallery to display his sculptured Horological Machines in the context of mechanical art by other artists.[15]

In addition to Geneva, there are now M.A.D. Galleries in Dubai,[16] Taipei[17] and Hong Kong.[15]

Awards

[edit]

In 2018, Maximilian Büsser was awarded the Prix Gaïa "Spirit of Enterprise"" in recognition of his creative approach to watchmaking in the design and marketing of his products, and for the innovative way he manages his business."[18]

Film

[edit]

Maximilian Büsser features in the documentary feature film Making Time, which also features Philippe Dufour, Aldis Hodge and Nico Cox.

Personal life

[edit]

Maximilian Busser's mother was a Parsi Zoroastrian and he credits her for playing a major role in his success.[19]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "One on One: MB&F CEO Maximilian Büsser Celebrates 10 Years of Creativity". Haute Time. 2016.
  2. ^ "Maximilian Büsser (MT'91)". EPFL Alumni (in French). 13 August 2012. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
  3. ^ "Maximilian Büsser: 'This Is My Life". The New York Times. 2016.
  4. ^ "Maximilian Busser – Master Horologist". luxe.in.a.city. 2013.
  5. ^ "JCK Asks…Maximilian Büsser". JCK Online. 2011.
  6. ^ ""Keeping time is not the point": Maximilian Büsser". The CEO Magazine. March 2019.
  7. ^ "New Partners Hope to Expand Harry Winston". The New York Times. December 2000.
  8. ^ "Maximilian Büsser: 'This Is My Life'". The New York Times. January 2016.
  9. ^ "The Harry Winston Opus Series: A Complete Overview From Opus 1 Through Opus 13". Quill & Pad. 2015.
  10. ^ a b "MB&F's Maximilian Büsser Is Making Outrageous $230,000 Watches -- And His Business Is Thriving". Forbes. 2015.
  11. ^ "The storyteller: Max Busser". Esquire Middle East. 2015.
  12. ^ "Controversial Watchmaker Maximilian Büsser Reveals What Makes Him Tick". Robb Report. 2015.
  13. ^ "Visiting the MB&F M.A.D Gallery, the crazy artistic universe of Max Busser & Friends". Monochrome Watches. 2016.
  14. ^ "Max Büsser's Accidental Art Gallery Empire". Watch Journal. May 2018.
  15. ^ a b "5 Awesome Mechanical Sculptures You Can't Miss At M.A.D.Gallery". Asia Tatler. 2019.
  16. ^ "Design Days Dubai in partnership with MB&F M.A.D Gallery". Gulf news. 2016.
  17. ^ "MB&F – Second M.A.D.Gallery in Taipei". Europa Star Dubai. 2015.
  18. ^ "The 2018 Gaïa Prize". Feberation of the Swiss Watch Industry. October 2018.
  19. ^ "Talking Watches". YouTube. 2021.
[edit]