Luigi Macaluso, President of the Sowind Group (owner of the brands Girard-Perregaux e JeanRichard) was appointed 'Cavaliere dell'Ordine al Merito del Lavoro'. The title was conferred on him by the President of the Italian Republic, Giorgio Napolitano, during a solemn ceremony held at the Quirinale Palace in Rome. This honour is awarded every year to entrepreneurs who have distinguished themselves in the five sectors of industry, agriculture, commerce, tourism and services, handicrafts, and credit and insurance activities with important social and employment benefits. The Order of Merit for Labour was established for the first time in 1901, awarding the title every year since then to 25 people.
