Ernst Thomke

Dr. Ernst Thomke was born on 21 April 1939 in Biel/Bienne Canton of Berne, on the Franco-German linguistic border. His father was a practicing physician. First a trained mechanic, he acquired the Swiss federal maturity degree and pursued academic studies, while in employment. The circumstances led him to become an efficient saviour of Swiss ailing companies throughout his career

Thomke first completed an apprenticeship as a mechanic at the factory of ETA SA in Grenchen Canton of Solothurn. Between 1961 and 1967, he studied natural sciences, mainly chemistry at the University of Bern and University of Lausanne. Then he pursued medical studies in Berne, while working full-time. He was promoted to doctor in 1975. He completed his education with management studies and marketing at the (INSEAD), Fontainebleau.

He worked from 1970 to 1977 in research for the British pharmaceutical group Beecham, mainly at their Swiss laboratories, but also at the pharmacological institute of Gothenborg, Sweden. Imperceptibly he was taken to focus on the tasks of economic management. He was appointed head of marketing and regional marketing director in the Europe division of the group.

In 1978, at the peak of the Swiss watch industry crisis, facing the global onslaught of Japanese watches, mainly those with Quartz, Thomke was called to the rescue of ETA SA. In order to end the prevailing destructive internal competition within the Swiss Ebauches manufacturers, Thomke was convinced that only a maximum of concentration of all those companies scattered around, could finally save the Swiss watch industry.

1978, ETA SA merged with its former rival A. Schild SA (AS). The new ETA, with 2,200 employees, introduced gradually improved new technology in the manufacturing of quartz movements and full automation throughout the production. Thomke integrated as much as possible the administrative and production areas of the other Ebauches factories since long owned by Ebauches SA.

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