Jean-Daniel Pasche has succeeded François Habersaat as president of The Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry (FH), effective July 1, according to an FH announcement.

Habersaat, who resigned, had said when re-elected in June 2000 that he would turn over the office to his successor before the end of his three-year term. That happened June 27 at the annual general meeting of the Federation, held in Bern, Switzerland, unanimously elected Pasche to the presidency.

Habersaat, 72, was first elected FH president in 1993. He had worked in the Swiss watch industry since 1951. Prior to becoming FH president, he was marketing and sales director of ETA, the movement-making division of what is now the Swatch Group.

Pasche, 46, had been director of the FH, responsible for its daily operations, since 1993. Prior to that, he was vice director of Switzerland’s Federal Office of Intellectual Property. He will occupy the post of president full time, said the FH announcement, as opposed to part-time like previous FH presidents.

The Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry, headquartered in Bienne, Switzerland, is the industry’s leading trade association. The private, professional, non-profit association has more than 500 members representing over 90% of all Swiss manufacturers of finished timepieces, watch movements, and components. It represents the Swiss watch industry in dealing with Swiss, foreign and international authorities, and economic organizations. The Federation protects its members interests in regards to domestic and foreign legislation, and international negotiations.

JCK