Life lessons from the guitar-playing, jet-setting CEO of furniture brand Roche Bobois
Recalling his backpacking days as a student, Gilles Bonan, the CEO of French luxury furniture brand Roche Bobois, speaks of his fondness for South America and Asia.
"I have very good vibes about Singapore and I'm a large fan of Argentina equally well. I dearest meeting people and experiencing different cultures," Bonan told CNA Luxury.
It'southward his second visit to Singapore, this time for the opening of the make's virtually-500 sqm showroom along Bukit Timah Route.
The Asian growth story is ane Bonan has come to know well, with the continent driving much of Roche Bobois's aggressive expansion in recent years. Of the brand'southward 265 showrooms around the world, 13 (and counting) are in Prc, four in South korea, two each in Japan and Vietnam plus those in the Philippines, Hong Kong and at present, Singapore.
Indeed, Roche Bobois' collection of colourful and often whimsical furniture designs – the product of adventurous collaborations with talented designers and esteemed mode houses the likes of Christian Lacroix, Jean Paul Gaultier, Kenzo Takada, Ora Ito and Missoni Dwelling house – has been growing on the Asian palate of late.
"Nosotros accept been in China for virtually fifteen years and we take seen the market evolve from a preference for our more classical collections to more contemporary designs," observed Bonan.
He believes that more homeowners are embracing Roche Bobois' French art de vivre style equally a "reflection of their own personality".
"Nosotros try to convey emotion through our designs and that is the je ne sais quoi of Roche Bobois," he said. "Now, people are into a mix of manner and materials and that is the spirit backside the new Globetrotter collection with Dutch designer Marcel Wanders."
The travel-themed drove traverses the globe for artistic inspiration, pulling together cultural influences from three of the virtually popular stopover destinations in the world: London, Paris and Istanbul. There are sofas and lamps inspired by hot air balloons and dining tables with legs dressed in fishnet stockings reminiscent of cancan dancers in Paris, to name a few of the imaginative pieces in the fun and eclectic drove.
They appeal to global citizens similar Bonan, whose own worldview was not only enriched from his early on travels but also cultivated during his previous function every bit Deputy Director of Roche Bobois in charge of international development and finance.
"I was involved in developing the make internationally and then one of my responsibilities was to convince oversees franchisees to invest in our brand. In order to put forward a convincing argument, you have to listen and sympathize people so that you tin can influence them in a positive way. And to accomplish this, you lot demand a lot of humility."
"The key to life – and business organisation leadership – is therefore humility," said Bonan.
His appreciation for cultural nuances connected maturing as he learnt to communicate with the unlike land markets, prioritising listening and understanding those he worked with so equally to better engage with them. This ultimately shaped Bonan's "participative" direction style when he assumed the role of CEO 11 years ago.
Sharing of vision and clear controlling are other cardinal leadership rules Bonan believes every CEO should live past. Once these are in place, it'south all near the execution. "You have to measure the efficiency of your decisions confronting the result," he said.
While exotic lands had been the ones to move him about in his youth, the Paris-based CEO counts the cities of New York, Milan, Barcelona, London and Paris among his favourite these days.
Just when city life gets as well much, Bonan "escapes" to his country home in Normandy, about ii hours outside Paris. "It'southward very peaceful by the sea," he says. And the perfect place for him to choice up his guitar to unplug.
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Source: https://cnalifestyle.channelnewsasia.com/people/roche-bobois-ceo-gilles-bonan-singapore-showroom-bukit-timah-239306
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