Gary Neville has made a bold move into the world of luxury timepieces by joining the board of Swiss watchmaker Norqain.
Since hanging up his boots, Neville has established a varied business portfolio which includes a pair of hotels in Manchester, a property development firm, and he's also the voice behind The Overlap podcast among other projects. Founded in 2018 by ex-professional ice hockey player Mark Streit, Norqain is a family-run venture that's carving out its reputation in the competitive industry.
Excited about his new role, Neville shared: "I've been following Norqain for some time now and really admire the brand's values and innovative, sporty timepieces. As a challenger brand in the Swiss watch industry, Norqain is a perfect fit for me, and I'm thrilled to join Ben [Küffer, CEO] and the team as a partner in the business here in the UK and Ireland. We share the same vision and challenger spirit, and I can't wait to get started."
Norqain's CEO Ben Küffer expressed equal enthusiasm about the partnership: "I've played and followed football all my life. Gary's leadership and captainry on the pitch were legendary, and he is not only a fantastic person but also an outstanding entrepreneur.
"I am very proud and excited to work together with him to elevate the Norqain brand to new heights in the UK and Ireland."
Heading the UK and Ireland division of Norqain, which was launched just last month, will be managing director Martyn Jenkins, who commented on his new challenge. "I'm incredibly excited to be joining Norqain at such a pivotal moment in its journey," he said.
"The company is redefining the Swiss watch industry with its fearless independence, innovative spirit and deep-rooted values – qualities that truly resonate with me. Norqain isn't just another luxury watch brand, it's a movement and a community, challenging the status quo and bringing something fresh to the market.
"It's also a privilege to work alongside Gary Neville, who has successfully reinvested himself as a dynamic entrepreneur after his legendary football career.
"His passion and business acumen bring an exciting dimension to Norqain's growth in the UK and Ireland."
In January, City AM reported on the impressive growth of Miroma, the parent company of Neville's The Overlap series, particularly highlighting its success in the US market. The marketing powerhouse, which holds a controlling interest in Neville's production venture Buzz 16, disclosed a significant revenue increase to £275.6m for the year ending 30 June 2024.
Alongside this revenue surge, the firm enjoyed a substantial leap in pre-tax profits, soaring from £1.3m to £6.5m over the same 12-month period. However, not all ventures associated with Neville have been flourishing.
In the same month, it emerged that The Stock Exchange Hotel in Manchester's city centre, co-owned by Neville and Ryan Giggs, faced deeper financial struggles following the closure of Tom Kerridge's restaurant within its premises.
Despite the hotel experiencing a drop in sales, it did garner attention when Madonna exclusively booked the establishment during her performance stint in Manchester.
Additionally, Hotel Football, another joint enterprise between the footballing duo, remained unprofitable even though it recorded its best financial year to date during the latest reporting period.
Despite the ongoing financial struggles of his two hotels, Neville has found success with his St Michael's development in the heart of Manchester.
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