Maurice Robert

Maurice Robert (1888-1953), son of Auguste-Charles Robert-Tissot, was manager of the Fabrique d'Horlogerie de Fontainemelon from 1918 through its merger into Ebauches SA until his sudden death in 1953.

Biography

Maurice Robert was born in Fontainemelon in 1888. He was the son of Auguste-Charles Robert-Tissot, who soon became manager of the family firm, Fabrique d'Horlogerie de Fontainemelon, alongside his cousin Paul Robert. The young Maurice was prepared to take over the factory from a young age, studying in Neuchâtel and Fontainemelon and apprenticing as a watchmaker in Solothurn.

After graduation, Maurice Robert made many trips abroad to learn the global watch industry. He often traveled to Russia, an important market for watches at the turn of the century.

In 1912, Maurice Robert joined the family firm FHF and was made manager-director of the company in 1918. Although his father had died in 1907, the young Maurice Robert was mentored by Paul Robert. He also worked alongside another young manager of the company, Sydney de Coulon, who ascended to management the same year.

Maurice Robert became a founding board member of Ebauches SA when the cartel was created in 1926, and served alongside his uncle (vice chairman) and Sydney de Coulon (secretary).

Maurice Robert died suddenly in 1953. Management of FHF was immediately handed to his son, Denis Robert, who had worked at the company since 1945 and would manage it as the fifth generation of the Robert family through 1982.