Chrono24 Taps Tech Veteran José Gaztelu as First Chief Growth Officer to Spearhead Global Dominance
In a decisive move signaling a new era of strategic expansion, Chrono24, the world’s leading online marketplace for luxury watches, has announced the appointment of José Gaztelu as its first-ever Chief Growth Officer (CGO). Gaztelu, a seasoned executive with a formidable track record of scaling global digital platforms like Nextdoor and Houzz, steps into this newly created role to accelerate Chrono24’s mission to become the undisputed global destination for watch enthusiasts.
The appointment is a pivotal moment for the Karlsruhe, Germany-based “unicorn,” which has already fundamentally reshaped how consumers buy, sell, and connect with luxury timepieces. By bringing in a growth architect of Gaztelu’s caliber, Chrono24 is making a clear statement: its phase of rapid organic growth is now evolving into a sophisticated, data-driven strategy aimed at total market leadership. Reporting directly to CEO Carsten Keller, Gaztelu will be at the helm of the company’s global expansion, marketing, branding, and new business development initiatives.
A Strategic Move for the “Unicorn” of Watch Marketplaces
Founded in 2003, Chrono24 has risen from a niche online listing site to a global powerhouse. With over 9 million unique visitors per month and a staggering inventory of approximately 560,000 watches from over 3,000 professional dealers and countless private sellers across more than 100 countries, its scale is unmatched. The platform’s success lies in its ability to provide a secure, transparent, and comprehensive ecosystem for a market traditionally fragmented and often opaque.
The company’s status as a dominant force was solidified in its 2021 Series C funding round, which raised €100 million and catapulted its valuation past the $1 billion mark, earning it the coveted “unicorn” status. This round attracted high-profile investors, including private equity firm General Atlantic and, notably, Aglaé Ventures, the technology investment firm backed by LVMH chairman Bernard Arnault. More recently, football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, a renowned watch collector, deepened his involvement by becoming an investor, lending both significant capital and unparalleled brand visibility to the platform.
This powerful backing and market position provide the foundation upon which Gaztelu will now build. His appointment is not merely about maintaining momentum; it’s about strategically channeling these resources to conquer new frontiers and deepen engagement within its existing, massive user base.
Introducing José Gaztelu: The Growth Architect
To understand the significance of this hire, one must look at José Gaztelu’s impressive career, which reads like a masterclass in scaling consumer-facing technology companies. With over 15 years of experience, he has consistently been at the forefront of digital innovation, helping disruptive platforms achieve global reach.
A Proven Track Record in Scaling Global Platforms
Gaztelu’s most recent role was on the executive leadership team at Nextdoor, the neighborhood-focused social network with over 100 million registered users. From 2021 to 2024, he was responsible for market operations and corporate strategy, a role that involved navigating the complexities of launching and growing a community-based platform in diverse international markets. His experience at Nextdoor is particularly relevant to Chrono24’s ambitions. Both platforms rely on building trust within a community—one centered on neighborhoods, the other on a shared passion for horology. Gaztelu’s expertise in fostering this sense of community on a global scale will be invaluable.
Before his tenure at Nextdoor, Gaztelu was instrumental in the international expansion of several other digital giants:
- Houzz: As a senior leader at the home and renovation platform, he helped build a marketplace connecting homeowners with design and construction professionals. This experience in a high-value, trust-based e-commerce environment mirrors the challenges of selling luxury watches online.
- Zalora: At Southeast Asia’s largest online fashion retailer, he gained deep insights into the fast-paced world of online apparel, a sector that, like watches, is driven by brand, style, and consumer aspiration.
- Domestika: His work with the rapidly growing online learning platform for creatives demonstrates an understanding of how to engage and monetize a global community of enthusiasts and experts—a perfect parallel to the world of watch collectors, modders, and aficionados.
His career began at the prestigious consulting firm McKinsey & Company, where he honed the analytical and strategic skills that have defined his subsequent successes. This blend of high-level strategy and hands-on operational excellence makes him uniquely qualified to architect Chrono24’s next growth phase.
The Vision: Solidifying Chrono24’s Reign as the Global Watch Destination
In a statement accompanying the announcement, CEO Carsten Keller was unequivocal about the company’s ambition. “Our goal is clear: becoming the global default destination for luxury watches,” he said. Gaztelu’s appointment is the key to turning this ambitious vision into a concrete reality.
What “Global Default Destination” Truly Means
Becoming the “default destination” extends far beyond simply having the largest inventory. It’s about embedding Chrono24 into the very fabric of the watch ownership journey. This multi-faceted goal likely includes:
- Unshakeable Trust: Perfecting and promoting features like the Chrono24 Escrow Service, where payment is held securely until the buyer confirms receipt of the watch as described, and the Authenticity Guarantee, where watches are verified by certified watchmakers before reaching the buyer. These services are the bedrock of consumer confidence in a market rife with counterfeits.
- Unrivaled Selection and Access: Continuing to expand the marketplace to include not only every major brand from Rolex and Patek Philippe to Audemars Piguet and Omega but also rare vintage pieces, independent watchmakers, and microbrands. This ensures that every watch search, for every type of collector, begins and ends on Chrono24.
- A Rich, Engaging User Experience: Transforming the platform from a transactional marketplace into a comprehensive horological hub. This involves enhancing tools like the Watch Collection feature, which allows users to track the value of their personal collection over time, and providing rich editorial content, market analysis, and community forums that keep users engaged even when they aren’t actively buying or selling.
The CGO’s Mandate: A Multi-Pronged Growth Strategy
Gaztelu’s role as Chief Growth Officer will be to orchestrate a symphony of initiatives across marketing, brand building, and business development. His focus will likely be on identifying and capitalizing on new growth levers, such as penetrating untapped geographic markets in Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East; forging strategic partnerships with luxury brands, media outlets, and financial institutions; and innovating the user experience on both web and mobile to increase conversion and retention. He will be tasked with answering critical questions: How can Chrono24 better serve the next generation of watch buyers? What new services can be offered to dealers and private sellers? How can the brand story be told more powerfully to a global audience?
This is a strategic, holistic approach to growth, moving beyond simple user acquisition to focus on building lasting customer lifetime value and solidifying the Chrono24 brand as a byword for trust, selection, and passion in the world of luxury watches. In hiring its first CGO, Chrono24 is signaling its readiness to compete not just as an e-commerce platform, but as a defining brand in the luxury industry.
