The 1916 Company has shuffled its leadership team with Justin Reis taking over as chairman from co-founder Danny Govberg and John Shmerler becoming chief executive.
The shareholding of the group is unchanged, a spokesperson for the group told WatchPro this morning.
Mr Govberg’s role is described as “hard to contain within a traditional title” but he will work closely day-to-day with Mr Shmerler with a particular focus on strategy, vision and growth.
Just six months since The 1916 Company was created with the merger of WatchBox, Govberg, Radcliffe, and Hyde Park Jewelers into a single group, the company has also announced new stores in Baltimore, a new outpost in Philadelphia’s Ardmore suburb that will open later this year and a multibrand showroom set to open Manhattan Beach, CA, in 2025.
It will also launch a unified website at www.the1916company.com before summer.
“Since we founded the company, it has grown from strength to strength, with over 500 employees and 20 locations worldwide. I am delighted to welcome John Shmerler as the chief executive officer. John has an incredible passion for the industry and carries deep relationships with the leading watch and jewelry brands,” Mr Reis says.
“This announcement comes at the perfect time, as we continue to invest in our community-focused strategy, nurturing long-lasting customer relationships, and bringing together the worlds of new and pre-owned watches and jewelry. It’s all about creating a richer experience for our clients,” he adds.
The 1916 Company has primary showrooms in Philadelphia, Baltimore, Delaware, Denver, Newport Beach and Scottsdale in addition to collectors’ lounges in New York, Miami, Las Angeles, Philadelphia and Boca Raton in the United States and internationally in Shanghai, Singapore, Hong Kong, Dubai, Riyadh, Neuchâtel and Zurich.
