David Kenel

David Kenel was a businessman in watchmaking from the 1880s through his death in 1932.

David Kenel was born in Schwyz on November 15, 1857. He did his commercial apprenticeship in Porrentruy, then worked abroad for two years in Italy and England.

Kenel settled in La Chaux-de-Fonds in 1885 to represent the watchmaking factory of his brother Albert Kenel of Porrentruy. In 1888 he became the partner of his mother-in-law Mrs. Justin Bourquin, becoming the head of this business a few years later.

Involved in the community, Kenel was a member of the local Commission, the School Council, and on board of the Watchmaking School. He was also a member of local charitable and public societies, including the Music Society, where he held a prominent place on the Committee for more than 20 years. But he refused numerous invitations to cantonal or municipal political posts.

In the industrial and commercial field, Kenel was part of the committee of the Chambre de Commerce et de l'Industrie Neuchâteloise from March 18, 1900 to the end of April 1928, 28 consecutive years. He was secretary for the Société des Fabricants d'Horlogerie de La Chaux-de-Fonds from 1890 to 1893. He was a delegate to the Chambre Suisse de l'Horlogerie from 1919 to 1924 and was part of the Board of Directors for the Fédération Horlogère Suisse starting in 1909 and became president in 1915. Kenel was also on the Editorial Board of La Fédération Horlogère.

Kenel died in January 1932.