After five years working together, Dr Bruce McGrath has taken on the full ownership of Timepieces Australia, the local distributor of Howard Miller, Kieninger, Harrowdene and Ridgeway clocks, from his business partner John Cookson.
Cookson, who is leaving the company to pursue his marketing career, said he was delighted to hand over the full operation of the company to McGrath.
“I know the company will continue to develop and grow to meet the needs of our clients in the time ahead,” he said.
McGrath said he had enjoyed a terrific working relationship with Cookson while “developing the prestige clock opportunity in Australia” and the company was now well positioned to expand its services.
‘The Howard Miller group are continually releasing innovative products, in their existing and new categories, which have grown spectacularly in the US and in other world markets,” he said.
“We look forward to tapping that resource for the Australian market enthusiastically”, said McGrath.”
Meanwhile Cookson, who brought an international background of branded business development, sales, marketing and merchandising skills to Timepieces Australia, said he was looking forward to “devoting more time to the impact that web 2 and web 3 will have on business activities”.
‘While the future is always exciting I am truly saddened that I will have less contact with many of the fine people I have met in the clock, watch and jewellery industry,” he said.
Cookson said he would particularly miss “key customers who share a focus and passion for excellence in traditional crafts and prestige brands” and the Watch and Clock Association of Australia “for their outstanding skills and craftmanship when working on mechanical watches and clocks”.