In this episode, we sit down with Marie-Theres Mangelsdorf and Nino Bergfeld to explore Montblanc's ambitious commerce transformation — launching a new platform across 60 markets in just 11 months.

We discuss how Montblanc balanced its rich heritage with the demands of modern digital commerce. Marie-Theres shares the strategic decisions that made the rapid rollout possible, including ruthless prioritization between "business critical" and "nice to have," and aligning the entire organization around a clear why.

We also dive into global consistency versus local adaptation, the realities of headless versus monolithic architectures, and how luxury brands must carefully choose what to control in-house versus outsource. Beyond technology, the conversation highlights leadership lessons to drive change while keeping the business running.

Show Highlights:

Balancing brand heritage with modern digital innovation
Prioritizing business critical features over perfection
Global consistency with strategic local adaptations
Headless versus monolithic architecture decisions in luxury
In-house control versus outsourcing across the value chain
Leading teams through high pressure transformation with clarity and transparency

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Supporting Resources:

Nino Bergfeld: nbergfeld@salesforce.com

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Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com. Let them know I sent you.

128: 60 Markets in 11 Months: Montblanc's Commerce Transformation Journey