The first month of 2020 has already seen huge changes in the world. With the end of Brexit on the horizon, fears of how a the coronavirus Covid-19 might progress, and a renewed fervour for climate action hitting the headlines, this is already shaping up to be a roaring '20s to put the 1900s to shame.
On a personal note, the start of the year has seen a big change for me too, as in January I was officially appointed editor of Tempus, and editorial director of the magazine's parent company Vantage Media, overseeing print and digital for both brands. This year, we'll be printing six gorgeous coffee table-style editions of the luxury lifestyle magazine while continuing to bring readers exciting news from the luxury world online, and I look forward to trying out exciting ways to grow the brand even more.
Below, you can read my Welcome Letter from the new issue in full for a sneak peek at what to expect in the new edition.
"The turn of the decade promised a new Roaring Twenties and, so far, it has not disappointed. Already it seems that 2020 is a year of conscious change in the business sphere, particularly when it comes to safeguarding the planet. At this year’s World Economic Forum in Davos, environmental activist Greta Thunberg’s rallies and the continuing impact of Australian wildfires seem to have galvanised a renewed fervour for climate action among international business leaders and the world’s wealthiest.
Likewise, as Britain officially leaves the European Union, industries are putting into place creative, holistic strategies that may help shape new economic trends. There’s little doubt that this will be a decade of decisive action and fast technological innovation, and one where our environmental impact will be felt across all sectors.
The question that remains, then, is how do we transform our good intentions into sure economic strategy?
According to Amanda Nevill CBE, who this February steps down as CEO of the British Film Institute after 17 years, it is the responsibility of those in leadership roles to “make things happen”. It was apparent that her success in supporting the unprecedented growth of Britain’s film industry as a financial and cultural export has been down to an unflappable confidence in the face of change. Not only did the BFI embrace the opportunities of a changing industry but, under Amanda’s leadership, it pioneered them, helping develop an £8bn industry of home-grown talent.
A similar ethos is apparent among the members of The Conduit, an eco-friendly Mayfair members’ club. There, the message of co-founder Paul van Zyl is that changing times could provide the “greatest opportunity we’ve ever been given” to create a more innovative and kinder way of doing business.
Elsewhere in the issue, we look at the world through a different lens in our celebration of the Travel Photographer of the Year Awards, and embrace Tempus’ horological heritage with an inside look at Blancpain’s famed Métiers d’Arts workshop, where we learn more about the Japanese fine art of Binchōtan. Keeping with our global theme, we head to Malaysia, Alta Badia and Champagne to explore surprising new luxury trends, join what might be the fastest car ever made as it gets ready to break the land speed record, and take influence from two extremes of modern architecture.
As the time for reflection gives way to decisive action, Tempus takes inspiration from some of the best in every business."