Ernst Thomke
Encyclopedia
Dr. Ernst Thomke was born on 21 April 1939 in Biel/Bienne
Canton of Berne
, on the Franco-German linguistic border. His father was a practicing physician. First a trained mechanic, he acquired the Swiss federal maturity degree and pursued academic studies, while in employment. The circumstances led him to become an efficient saviour of Swiss ailing companies throughout his career
at the factory of ETA SA in Grenchen
Canton of Solothurn
. Between 1961 and 1967, he studied natural sciences, mainly chemistry at the Universities of Bern and Lausanne. Then he pursued medical studies in Berne, while working full time. He was promoted doctor in 1975. He completed his education with management studies and marketing at the (INSEAD
), Fontainebleau
.
. Imperceptibly he was taken to focus on the tasks of economic management. He was appointed head of marketing and regional marketing director in the Europe division of the group.
1978, ETA SA merged with its former rival A. Schild SA (AS). The new ETA, with 2,200 employees, introduced gradually improved new technology in the manufacturing of quartz movements and full automation throughout the production. Thomke integrated as much as possible the administrative and production areas of the other Ebauches factories since long owned by Ebauches SA.
In 1982 he became CEO of Ebauches SA and was appointed on the Board of Directors of the ASUAG, the holding company of ETA SA.
, and with the assistance of external Franz Sprecher, a fine marketing specialist, they are the instigators of the success of the Brand
Swatch, which spearheaded the resurgence of the Swiss Watch Industry. Nowadays the accounting unit of Swatch watches sold around the world is the tens of millions!
(SMH
), now called Swatch Group.
Thomke was its first CEO, from 1984 to 1991. In this period, the company won universal major consideration for the successful integration of all the Ebauches factories into Eta SA and the regain of prestige of exclusive brands Omega, Longines, Tissot. The Microméchanique acquired the necessary top technology for the manufacture of integrated circuits and chips. In 1989, the consolidated turnover of SMH was CHF 2.1 billion.
Thomke left in 1991: At that time, Hayek, as Chairman of the Board had then already become the only person of reference.
, now known as UBS, he transformed this eclectic group by restoring its activity in the most profitable primary energy sector, under the new name of ATEL
.
in Arbon as Chairman of the Board. To restructure this conglomerate, he had previously abandoned his position with its major shareholder: BB Industrie Holding AG (22%). The previous major shareholder, Tito Tettamanti, of the conglomerate, founded in 1853, specialized in textile machinery and "Antriebstechnik", had acquired the main competitor in each field, Schlafhorst, with a large manufacturing capacity excess and Ghidela .
Thomke led Saurer AG until 1996, when he retired to the direction of the Board until 1999. In his years he promulgated transparency at all levels, flexible working hours, optimized the production and refined accounting systems. In 1996, Saurer SA went back into financial results showing profits. More than half of the revenues originating from Schlafhorst, upon its positive restructuring.
, promoting the development of innovative medicines.
Biel/Bienne
Biel/Bienne is a city in the district of the Biel/Bienne administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.It is located on the language boundary and is throughout bilingual. Biel is the German name for the town, Bienne its French counterpart. The town is often referred to in both...
Canton of Berne
Canton of Berne
The Canton of Bern is the second largest of the 26 Swiss cantons by both surface area and population. Located in west-central Switzerland, it borders the Canton of Jura and the Canton of Solothurn to the north. To the west lie the Canton of Neuchâtel, the Canton of Fribourg and Vaud. To the south...
, on the Franco-German linguistic border. His father was a practicing physician. First a trained mechanic, he acquired the Swiss federal maturity degree and pursued academic studies, while in employment. The circumstances led him to become an efficient saviour of Swiss ailing companies throughout his career
Training
Thomke first completed an apprenticeship as a mechanicMechanic
A mechanic is a craftsman or technician who uses tools to build or repair machinery.Many mechanics are specialized in a particular field such as auto mechanics, bicycle mechanics, motorcycle mechanics, boiler mechanics, general mechanics, industrial maintenance mechanics , air conditioning and...
at the factory of ETA SA in Grenchen
Grenchen
Grenchen is a municipality in the district of Lebern in the canton of Solothurn in Switzerland.It is located at the foot of the Jura mountains between Solothurn and Biel. With over 16,000 inhabitants, it is one of the larger towns of the canton of Solothurn...
Canton of Solothurn
Canton of Solothurn
Solothurn is a canton of Switzerland. It is located in the northwest of Switzerland. The capital is Solothurn.-History:The territory of the canton comprises land acquired by the capital...
. Between 1961 and 1967, he studied natural sciences, mainly chemistry at the Universities of Bern and Lausanne. Then he pursued medical studies in Berne, while working full time. He was promoted doctor in 1975. He completed his education with management studies and marketing at the (INSEAD
INSEAD
INSEAD is an international graduate business school and research institution. It has campuses in Europe , Asia , and the Middle East , as well as a research center in Israel...
), Fontainebleau
Fontainebleau
Fontainebleau is a commune in the metropolitan area of Paris, France. It is located south-southeast of the centre of Paris. Fontainebleau is a sub-prefecture of the Seine-et-Marne department, and it is the seat of the arrondissement of Fontainebleau...
.
Professional Activities
He worked from 1970 to 1977 in research for the British pharmaceutical group Beecham, mainly at their Swiss laboratories, but also at the pharmacological institute of Gothenborg, SwedenSweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
. Imperceptibly he was taken to focus on the tasks of economic management. He was appointed head of marketing and regional marketing director in the Europe division of the group.
Return to ETA SA
In 1978, at the peak of the Swiss watch industry crisis, facing the global onslaught of Japanese watches, mainly those with Quartz, Thomke was called to the rescue of ETA SA. In order to end the prevailing destructive internal competition within the Swiss Ebauches manufacturers, Thomke was convinced that only a maximum of concentration of all those companies scattered around, could finally save the Swiss watch industry.1978, ETA SA merged with its former rival A. Schild SA (AS). The new ETA, with 2,200 employees, introduced gradually improved new technology in the manufacturing of quartz movements and full automation throughout the production. Thomke integrated as much as possible the administrative and production areas of the other Ebauches factories since long owned by Ebauches SA.
In 1982 he became CEO of Ebauches SA and was appointed on the Board of Directors of the ASUAG, the holding company of ETA SA.
Swatch
Thomke, with his collaborators Elmar Mock and Jacques Müller are the inventors of the SwatchSwatch
Swatch is a brand name for a line of wrist watches from the Swatch Group, a Swiss conglomerate with vertical control of the production of Swiss watches and related products...
, and with the assistance of external Franz Sprecher, a fine marketing specialist, they are the instigators of the success of the Brand
Brand
The American Marketing Association defines a brand as a "Name, term, design, symbol, or any other feature that identifies one seller's good or service as distinct from those of other sellers."...
Swatch, which spearheaded the resurgence of the Swiss Watch Industry. Nowadays the accounting unit of Swatch watches sold around the world is the tens of millions!
SMH
On the advice of the Hayek Engineering AG of freelance consultant Nicolas G. Hayek, both big watch groups ASUAG and SSIH merged between 1983 and 1984 in the Société de Microélectronique et d'HorlogerieSociété de Microélectronique et d'Horlogerie
Société de Microélectronique et d'Horlogerie was the original name of the new holding company issued from the merger enforced by the Swiss Banks in 1983 of both the SSIH and ASUAG, now Swatch Group ....
(SMH
SMH
-Hospitals:* Sarasota Memorial Hospital in Sarasota County, Florida* Scripps Mercy Hospital in San Diego, California* St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto in Ontario, Canada* St...
), now called Swatch Group.
Thomke was its first CEO, from 1984 to 1991. In this period, the company won universal major consideration for the successful integration of all the Ebauches factories into Eta SA and the regain of prestige of exclusive brands Omega, Longines, Tissot. The Microméchanique acquired the necessary top technology for the manufacture of integrated circuits and chips. In 1989, the consolidated turnover of SMH was CHF 2.1 billion.
Thomke left in 1991: At that time, Hayek, as Chairman of the Board had then already become the only person of reference.
Saviour of companies
Thereafter, Thomke consolidated its reputation as a corporate saviour by interventions met with success in the watch industry. He however always took several assignments simultaneously outside the watch industry:Motor Columbus
Thus, between 1992 and 1995, as CEO of Motor Columbus, on a mandate from its majority shareholder, the Union Bank of SwitzerlandUnion Bank of Switzerland
Union Bank of Switzerland was a large integrated financial services company located in Switzerland. The bank, which at the time was the second largest bank in Switzerland, merged with Swiss Bank Corporation in 1998, to become UBS to form what was then the largest bank in Europe and the second...
, now known as UBS, he transformed this eclectic group by restoring its activity in the most profitable primary energy sector, under the new name of ATEL
Atel
Aţel is a commune in Sibiu County, Romania. It is composed of two villages, Aţel and Dupuş. The commune first appears in written history in 1283 as villa Echelini. Later appearances in written documents are villa Heclini , Hetzelini villa and villa Eczlen , Ecczel , and Heczeldorf...
.
Oerlikon-Bührle Holding (OBH)
In addition he was active until 1997 for the Oerlikon-Bührle Holding (OBH). As Chairman and CEO between 1991 and 1997of both- Pilatus AG-FlugzeugwerkePilatus AircraftPilatus Aircraft Ltd. is an aircraft manufacturer located in Stans, Switzerland. The company employs more than 1,100 people.-History:The company was established in 1939, but it was not until 1944 that a Pilatus-built aircraft, the SB-2 Pelican, first took to the air...
and Stans - Bally International AGBally ShoeThe Bally Shoe company was founded as "Bally & Co" high fashion in 1851 by Carl Franz Bally and his brother Fritz in the basement of their family home in Schönenwerd in the Canton of Solothurn, Switzerland.-Business:...
. However, after an effective restructuring and streamlining of the latter company, plans to bring it to the Stock Exchange were rejected by the holding company. This negative decision led Thomke to withdraw from any activities within either company.
Saurer AG
In 1995, he had already taken the leadership of Saurer AGSaurer
Adolph Saurer AG was a Arbon, Switzerland , based manufacturer of trucks and buses, under the Saurer and Berna brand names, and active between 1903 and 1982....
in Arbon as Chairman of the Board. To restructure this conglomerate, he had previously abandoned his position with its major shareholder: BB Industrie Holding AG (22%). The previous major shareholder, Tito Tettamanti, of the conglomerate, founded in 1853, specialized in textile machinery and "Antriebstechnik", had acquired the main competitor in each field, Schlafhorst, with a large manufacturing capacity excess and Ghidela .
Thomke led Saurer AG until 1996, when he retired to the direction of the Board until 1999. In his years he promulgated transparency at all levels, flexible working hours, optimized the production and refined accounting systems. In 1996, Saurer SA went back into financial results showing profits. More than half of the revenues originating from Schlafhorst, upon its positive restructuring.
Other Directorships and shareholdings
Thereafter, while remaining in the background of the Swiss economic scene, Thomke agreed to other terms as Administrator. In the medical industry sector, he invested in shares of the company BB BiotechBB Biotech
BB Biotech AG is a Swiss investment company in the field of biotechnology. Since 1993 it is listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange, since 1997 on the German TecDAX and since 2000 on the Italian Borsa Italiana....
, promoting the development of innovative medicines.
Other Investments in the Watchmaking Industry
- Métaux Précieux SA MétalorMétaux Précieux SA MétalorThe Metalor Group, previously "Métaux Précieux SA Métalor", founded in 1852, has become one of the major world suppliers of precious metals related products & procedures...
: he became the main shareholder. This company is the largest refiner and producer of boxes gold watches. - British Masters SA he was the leading investor, who enabled the foundation by Eric Loth, one of his former employees, in 1995, of this exclusive watch company. He holds 25% of the capital.
Involved in
Director, Chairman of the Board to- BB Biotech AG since 1993
- Métaux Précieux SA MétalorMétaux Précieux SA MétalorThe Metalor Group, previously "Métaux Précieux SA Métalor", founded in 1852, has become one of the major world suppliers of precious metals related products & procedures...
, from 98; - BB Medtech AG, since 2000;
- Nobel BiocareNobel BiocareNobel Biocare is a company operating in dental implantology and aesthetic dental solutions. The headquarters are located in Kloten near Zurich, Switzerland...
since 2001; - Stiftungsrat, Institut für experimentelle Krebsforschung "(since 1995).
Hobbies
He manages a farm in southern France. Skiing and tennis are among his favourite sports.Sources & References
- The Outsiders who saved the Swiss Watch Industry: http://omega-constellation-collectors.blogspot.com/2006/08/outsiders-who-saved-omega-and-swiss.html
- Dr. Ernest Thomke: "Father of Swatch"
- http://www.stoehlker.ch/weblog/2005/07/26/macht-und-sensibilitat-nicolas-g-hayek/ "Um Ernst Thomke und Elmar Mock legt Hayek eine grosse Wolke": Macht und Sensibilität: Nicolas G. Hayek
- http://books.google.com/booksid=2Sn5ZTLJq8UC&pg=PA39&lpg=PA39&dq=Thomke+swatch&source=bl&ots=98Z7VyBu8w&sig=4ywhwF-6AU7LNLIfvod1fpZQzm8&hl=en&ei=Ipt4SuuNBJaInQOhvamUBg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=26#v=onepage&q=Thomke%20swatch&f=false Thomke: Swatch a Successful Strategy
- http://freekvermeulen.blogspot.com/2009/01/managers-and-leaders-are-they-different.html Managers and leaders: Are they different?: see Ref. to Dr. Ernst Thomke & Nicolas Hayek "Ernst Thomke created the organisation that led to the emergence of the innovative Swatch; subsequent CEO Nicolas Hayek took the invention and relentlessly managed the organisation into a long streak of dominance and profitability".
- http://www.able2act.com/extra/news/?module_instance=2&id=231299&nid Thomke, Ernst, Short Biography
- http://people.hoovers.com/executives/chairman/bb-medtech-ag/ernst-thomke Ernst Thomke: Chairman BB MEDTECH AG, etc.
- http://investing.businessweek.com/businessweek/research/stocks/people/person.asp?personId=945850&ric=NOBN.VX&previousCapId=657860&previousTitle=Synthes%20Inc Thomke, Ernst: Nobel Biocare Holding AG, etc.
- The Swatch Phenomenon Series of Articles retracing Swatch's history