Spear’s Review

The story of Swiss watch brand Richard Mille is quite extraordinary.

Since its launch in 1999, the company has grown at breakneck speed to become Switzerland’s sixth largest luxury watch brand – leapfrogging much older marques such as Breitling, IWC and Vacheron Constantin in the process. With nearly $1.5 billion in sales in 2024, it sits at the top table alongside the other Swiss watchmakers that Spear’s readers know only too well. 

A large part of Richard Mille’s success has been down to, well, Richard Mille. The man who gives the company its name is a virtuoso and has used his engineering expertise, modern materials and almost total disregard for convention to create stunning timepieces that are inspired by a love of racing. (The company tagline is ‘a racing machine on the wrist’.)

But, behind the scenes, Peter Harrison is the one who keeps things ticking. The company’s CEO for the EMEA region has been instrumental in its growth since its early days.

He previously told Spear’s that the arrival of Richard Mille – which develops highly engineered watches with advanced, modern, often lightweight materials – represented a change of pace for the industry. ‘It used to be the case that a watch being or looking heavy meant that it was expensive,’ Harrison said. ‘But our audience – people with a passion for racing – understand that reducing weight can be a good thing.’

The brand has had an extraordinary array of partners – from Formula 1 driver Charles Leclerc to actors Michelle Yeoh and John Malkovich, as well as organisations from Airbus Corporate Jets to the Louvre Abu Dhabi.

Read next: The 2025 Spear’s Power List – who made the cut

Power List Profile

Peter Harrison is chief executive of Richard Mille Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), where he combines disciplined commercial leadership with a distinctive cultural point of view. Under his guidance, the EMEA business has strengthened its position with the world’s most discerning collectors, focusing on long-term client relationships, measured growth and an unwavering standard of service across key markets.

Harrison is known for pairing investor-minded rigour with curatorial flair. He champions partnerships at the intersection of commerce and culture, notably the Richard Mille Art Prize with Louvre Abu Dhabi, which highlights emerging and established artists and deepens dialogue with the region. He has also been the conduit for Richard Mille’s title sponsorship of The ICE St. Moritz, aligning the brand with the event’s celebration of design and performance. He further embodies the watchmaking brand’s sporting spirit: most recently, he celebrated victory in the Admiral’s Cup for the Yacht Club de Monaco alongside brand partner Pierre Casiraghi, underscoring the brand’s affinity with performance at the highest level.

His selection to the Spear’s Power List recognises both his influence with UHNW audiences and his commitment to best practice in client experience, governance and thoughtful philanthropy. He is a visible advocate for transparent governance and responsible collecting, working closely with UHNW families on long-term stewardship and philanthropic initiatives. Throughout, Harrison’s approach is simple: build trust, invest in excellence and create programmes that add genuine value to the communities they touch.