CEO Of The Month | Chapter 3: Jan Edöcs - The Visionary Behind DOXA's Renaissance

Jan Edöcs was born and raised in Biel, Switzerland, the renowned cradle of Swiss watchmaking at the foot of the Jura Mountains. His introduction to horology came naturally through his family circle, where he was exposed to prestigious brands like Rolex and Omega from an early age. This early immersion in watchmaking culture would prove foundational to his future career trajectory. At the remarkably young age of 18, Edöcs began his professional journey at OMEGA while completing his degree in commerce. He started in the heritage department at OMEGA under curator Marco Richon, where his first assignment was cleaning all the pieces in the museum - a humble beginning that would provide him with intimate knowledge of horological heritage. He still possesses a prototype of one of the first Swatch watches from 1980-1981, testament to his early involvement with what would become one of the industry's most revolutionary brands.

Strategic Ascent Through Major Houses

Following his formative years at Omega, Edöcs accumulated extensive experience across various prestigious brands including Swatch Group, Milus, and Hanhart. His tenure included significant experience in Hong Kong and China markets, working with groups Peacemark and then Chow Tai Fook providing him with crucial insights into Asian luxury markets. His career progression included various management positions in sales and marketing, with additional experience at Versace. Most significantly, he served for nine years as CEO of Milus, where he successfully "put the brand back on the rails" - demonstrating his capability in brand revitalization that would later prove essential at DOXA.

In February 2019, at the age of 49, Edöcs joined DOXA as CEO, bringing with him thirty years of international commercial business experience in the luxury industry. His appointment came at a critical juncture for the legendary dive watch manufacturer, which required strategic repositioning and brand revitalization. Edöcs identifies three core leadership values: teamwork ("It is not one person who defines success, but a team"), leading by example, and thinking outside the box. He characterizes his unique contributions to the brand as "dynamism, visibility and consistency". His brand-building philosophy centers on authenticity and heritage respect. Edöcs maintains absolute clarity about DOXA's identity: "DOXA stays in the water! It's that simple. Our customers know that we are not going to present a confusing mix of products from different categories" 

The DOXA Renaissance
Edöcs considers his proudest achievement "the successful relaunch of Doxa Watches, a Swiss brand that is more than a hundred years old". His strategy involved "rebuilding the brand image and a collection of new products that do not betray the brand but, on the contrary, pay tribute to it and are perfectly aligned with its DNA". Under his leadership, DOXA has expanded globally with strategic precision. The brand opened a subsidiary in Florida, USA, and built "a strong Anglo-Saxon distribution triangle with the UK and Australia." Additionally, they opened a location in Germany, systematically expanding their retail presence beyond internet sales.

Edöcs has been instrumental in highlighting DOXA's pioneering contributions to dive watch technology. He emphasizes that "Doxa was the first brand to introduce a helium valve in a diver's watch and made it accessible to the general public in 1969". Furthermore, DOXA was "the first to introduce a brightly coloured dial in diver's watches: orange," developed through practical testing in Lake Neuchâtel where orange provided "optimal visibility even at 30 metres". As a hands-on executive, Edöcs most frequently wears "the SUB 200 limited series and the SUB 300T with a rubber strap". He particularly appreciates the SUB 300 for sailing and cardio activities around Lake Biel, citing its "link between the past and future" and the SUB 300 Carbon for its exceptional lightness at just 44 grams. When asked about future projects, Edöcs succinctly states: "Long live colour and may the story continue!" This encapsulates his commitment to both DOXA's colorful dive watch heritage and continued innovation.

Under Edöcs' leadership, DOXA has garnered significant industry attention and collector appreciation. He notes that "amateurs and collectors were not mistaken and today salute the work that we accomplished," with "forums and books that have come out about the history of Doxa". Jan Edöcs represents the modern horological executive who combines deep industry experience with authentic passion for watchmaking heritage. His journey from museum caretaker to CEO of one of diving's most storied brands exemplifies the potential for dedicated professionals to revitalize legendary marques while respecting their fundamental DNA. Through strategic brand positioning, global expansion, and unwavering focus on DOXA's diving heritage, Edöcs has successfully orchestrated one of the watch industry's most notable renaissance stories.