Rolex’s former chief executive and managing director Patrick Heiniger has died aged 62.
Heiniger was the third managing director of Rolex, succeeding his father in 1992, six years after he joined the Swiss watchmaker as commercial director. Argentinean-born Heiniger lead the company for 16 years before retiring in 2008.
His death was announced on Monday. A private funeral will be held for Heiniger this Friday, at St. Peter’s Cathedral in Geneva.
Heiniger followed the footsteps of his father, André J. Heiniger, who became managing director in 1963, succeeding Hans Wilsdorf, the founder of Rolex.
He was responsible for strategic changes at Rolex during the 1990s, adapting to vertical integration production, ensuring autonomy across the brand and its parts.
