Coralie Charriol Paul talks about life—and exciting brand—after dad
‘After losing Dad I learned you really can’t wait. He did it all. He loved life’
Coralie Charriol Paul hadn’t been tot he Philippines for many years, an dt he trip herein early October was especially poignant.
Growing up in hong Kong, she and her brothe ra lexander often visited the country with their dad, Char riol company founder Philippe, an dt heir mothe ra nnick , to see friends and business associates ,t he Tantocos of Rustan’s and SSI Group.
As adults, they came on business tri psw ith their father, afte rt aking on roles in the family firm.
Paul’s trip to Manila, with her mother, her brother and his fiancée, was sentimental—their patriarch Philippe die di na racing accident in Marseille, France, las tf ebruary, an dt hey were here for a memorial being hosted by the Tantoco family.
It was also Paul’s first visit as executive cha iro f Charriol, concurrent to her role as creative director. Her Los Angeles-based artist brother is now art director and director oflicenses.
At ame dia lunch hosted by SSI Gro up p residen ta nton Huang at Mani lah ouse ,it was clear Paul inherited he rd ad’s convivial and charming nature, h is candor. Philippe Charriol ha dt he reputation o fbe ing the life of any lunch or dinner, solicitous and out going. Paul has that same spirit—effervescent, genial, even touchy-feely.
Core values
Quizzed byl ifestyle on the future of Charriol with her at the helm, she feigned surprise and said ,“I don’ t know yet !” followed by a laugh.
“I have worked for 20 years in t hec ompany,” she said. “I did many jobs under my father’s guidance. I was in pR, I did promotion, I did design, I did even sales a to nep oint, to marketing and many differen tt hings. S oi feel I’ m prepared to be the chairman. I think, with my brother, and CEO Ludovic Lesur an do u rt eam, we’r eg oing to take what my dad create d, take t hec ore values that he established and bring it to
today’s world.”
Paul, who studied art history at Tufts University in Boston and was Charriol vice president at the time of her father’s death, recently uprooted her young family with husband Dennis Paul from New York to Geneva, where Charriol’s headquarters are.
Founded in 1983, Charriol today is known in over 60 markets for its line of fine watches, jewelry and accessories, and its signature cable motif. Its late founder often said that it’s in the Philippines where there’s greatest recognition for his brand.
Iconic cable
“The cable will always be there, because that is our signature,” said the lady boss. “That is what we are made of. But we’ll be using it in innovative ways. The whole world is also changing because people are buying differently. We’re online but we’re still supporting our brick-and-mortar stores, because they’re still important. And then we’ll continue to build the image, create another story, maybe a different story, but based on what Dad established and what he created.”
Paul, as creative director who was in charge of jewelry, had for years expanded on the Celtic bangle created by her dad in 1986, which became an icon for Charriol.
The unisex Forever bangle she created is marking its 10th year and can now be personalized for gifting. Customization, she said, takes a few weeks.
“It’s more addressing how they shop, and listening to what they want,” she said of the millennial and Gen Z markets. “You cannot please everyone. The cable is a very unique design; you either love it or hate it. You just really need to create a brand image that people will connect to, and feel that it’s relevant for their every day.”
Next level
She added, “The excitement is to be the leader of this family company, to fill my dad’s shoes and take it to the next level. I’m a woman, and I’m a mother, so there’s a lot of pressure.” Paul has two sons and a daughter, age 12, 10 and 5.
“I’m putting the pressure on myself because we do have a great team, and we’re a very established company. The pressure is more about not doing exactly what Dad did, but taking what he did to the next level. So those are the things that are the real challenge. I’m a woman and a mother, so it’s a bit harder. But yeah, we’re gonna do it, too! There are many powerful women here in the Philippines, and I know they get me here.”
Sustainability, conservation
Paul, with her husband, is also a film producer who cofounded React to Film, a nonprofit that creates documentary films supportive of her various causes: sustainability awareness and wildlife conservation.
On this visit, she hosted a sneak preview of “The Story of Plastic,” in which the Philippines is shown as a “solution maker” even as it also one of the biggest users of single-use plastics.
An avid surfer, Paul is involved with The Lonely Whale, an organization engaged in developing ideas for ocean conservation. She has designed a watch called Ocean Forever, with a rigid ink-blue and rosegold steel cable bracelet and a mother-of-pearl dial that pays tribute to the sea turtle; a portion of the sales will go to efforts for ocean conservation worldwide.
Asked if film producing will now take a back seat to her new role at Charriol, the tall blonde’s pretty face contorted into a grimace. “No! I’ll do everything at the same time and hope to not drown,” she said with a chuckle.
“I mean, you don’t know how long you’re here on this planet. Don’t wait. After losing Dad I learned that you really can’t wait. He did it all—he raced cars, he had a business, he had a family. He loved life. He didn’t wait to do anything. He died as he lived, with so much passion. We all have to take a page out of his book: Be courageous and live life one day at a time.”