Hublot CEO Ricardo Guadalupe talks UEFA Euro 2024, ambassador Kylian Mbappe and a deep passion for football
Q: Please describe what makes football and Hublot so well connected?
Guadalupe: Hublot was the first luxury brand to get involved in football! It is at the heart of everything we do, and football is a big part of Hublot’s story. In the world of football and sports in general, timing of any game is crucial. With our partnerships with FIFA World Cup and UEFA EURO, we are not only pushing our own boundaries as a watchmaker in innovation and technology but as timekeeper, Hublot plays a significant role in each game.
Q: How do you see the relationship between football and Hublot, which stretches back almost two decades, developing in the coming years?
Guadalupe: Since 2008, Hublot has been the Official Watch of the UEFA EURO. In 2014, Hublot became the Official Timekeeper of the FIFA World Cup starting with Brazil. Since then, our luxury brand has become a crucial part of the football game, firstly by supporting teams and players then, since 2014, by providing the official watch worn by referees and providing the fourth referee board which, with its design that echoes that of the Big Bang, has now become an iconic sight as it signals player substitutions and extra time.
Q: How important are the major football tournaments, for men and women, to Hublot as a business?
Guadalupe: We have a very busy month with the start of the UEFA Euro 2024 and inviting 500 people to come join us in Germany for a celebration of football with Hublot. We have also unveiled a campaign with Kylian Mbappe for the UEFA EURO 2024. It is a great way for us to connect with our clients, and share this moment of football with our Hublot family.
Q: How excited should football fans and watch aficionados be about BIG BANG E GEN3 UEFA EURO 2024?
Guadalupe: Very excited! The watch allows wearers to follow each second of the game. As a game kicks off, the watch will automatically enter “match mode” and activate “timeline,” a feature created exclusively for this watch helping fans capture the most memorable and most important moments in football.
Q: Kylian Mbappe is the face of the ‘Every second counts’ campaign. What makes him the perfect Hublot ambassador?
Guadalupe: Kylian is an incredible talent, and one of the greatest players of his generation. He is bold, joyful and we are very honoured to have him be a part of the Hublot family.
Q: What characteristics do you look for in footballers who become Hublot ambassadors?
Guadalupe: Fearless, bold and different from the rest. People who are not afraid to be themselves.
Q: BIG BANG E GEN3 UEFA EURO 2024 is the latest Hublot smartwatch. How do you see this sector developing in the coming years, and where does football fit into this?
Guadalupe: The connected watch is an important part of technology, I don’t believe it competes with mechanical watches as they are very different from each other. Connected watches are very important technology tools, like phones, to keep track of fitness, time, messages and stay connected to our digital world. Mechanical watches have a much more timeless and emotional component.
Q: What features make BIG BANG E GEN3 UEFA EURO 2024 the perfect accompaniment to this summer’s tournament?
Guadalupe: It allows every captivating moment of the game to be captured – the watch lives the game with you!
Q: Please let us know your personal connection to football, and how you’ve been able to express this through your work with Hublot?
Guadalupe: I am a fan of football. And thanks to Hublot I have been lucky to live unique experiences in the last 16 years. The best moment was the match between Pelé and Maradona in 2016 in Paris for the UEFA Euro.
Q: How much do you, personally, enjoy seeing Hublot’s continuing work with footballers and major football tournaments?
Guadalupe: I am living fabulous moments of joy, emotions, passions – Hublot vibes!
