Former Manchester United and England footballer, Gary Neville, has taken an unexpected leap into the world of luxury timepieces. Known for his successful career as a TV pundit and entrepreneur, Neville has now joined the board of Swiss watchmaker Norqain.
Since retiring from professional football, Neville has built a diverse business portfolio. His ventures include owning two hotels in Manchester, running a property development firm, and hosting The Overlap podcast among other projects.
Norqain is a family-run venture founded in 2018 by ex-professional ice hockey player Mark Streit. Despite being relatively new to the market, it is already making its mark in the competitive industry of luxury watches.
Mutual enthusiasm
Neville expressed excitement about his new role at Norqain while CEO Ben Küffer reciprocated with equal enthusiasm about their partnership. Martyn Jenkins will be heading up the UK and Ireland division of Norqain which was launched just last month.
Gary Neville, Manchester United legend, said:
"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."
Successes and challenges
In January this year, City AM reported on Miroma's impressive growth - the parent company behind Neville's The Overlap series - particularly highlighting its success in US markets. The marketing powerhouse disclosed significant revenue increase to £275.6m for the year ending 30 June 2024. Despite this success story not all ventures associated with Neville have been flourishing equally well. Both The Stock Exchange Hotel and Hotel Football co-owned by him faced financial struggles recently despite recording their best financial years yet during latest reporting period.
The Stock Exchange Hotel even had to close Tom Kerridge's restaurant within its premises due to these challenges but managed to garner attention when Madonna exclusively booked it during her performance stint in Manchester. Despite the financial struggles of his two hotels, Neville has found success with his St Michael's development in the heart of Manchester. His new role at Norqain adds another exciting chapter to his diverse business portfolio.
As he continues to navigate through successes and challenges, one thing is clear - Gary Neville is not afraid to venture into new territories and take on fresh challenges. His journey serves as an inspiration for sports fans and sports betting fans alike who are keen on exploring diverse opportunities beyond their primary interests.
