Executive Vice President, Treasurer & Chief Financial Officer, Enanta
Search every verified Michael Kalb interview, podcast appearance, and on-the-record quote — each transcript cross-checked by AI and human review to confirm speaker identity. Michael Kalb, Executive Vice President, Treasurer & Chief Financial Officer at Enanta, was named Philanthropist of the Year at a 2024 philanthropy awards ceremony. In his remarks, Kalb described a ten-year personal journey that began when he embraced his sexuality. He stated that his involvement with the LGBTQ community is about supporting good causes and political activism rather than social activities. Kalb said his work on a shelter for unhoused LGBTQ youth, Sunshine Pride House, helped him learn to love himself as a proud gay man. He attributed the project's success to the community's collective effort and said he was giving the recognition back to the community. In a 2023 collector conversation, Kalb discussed his watch collection, describing his preferences for contemporary timepieces he will wear. He spoke about specific watches including a Patek Philippe 5960/1A, an H. Moser & Cie. perpetual calendar, and a De Bethune, and commented on the engineering of an A. Lange & Söhne Zeitwerk. Kalb also noted that he looks for innovation and differentiation in watch brands and stated that the watch industry has moved on from the "Holy Trinity" of traditional manufacturers. Separately, in a 2020 musical performance, Kalb sang covers of songs including "Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out" and "The Needle and the Damage Done."
“This has been a real journey for me — it really was a ten‑year journey for me and it started when I first embraced my sexuality ten years ago.”
“What does LGBTQ community mean? It's not about going to bars or parties or hanging out with your friends — it's about getting involved in good causes that support the community, about getting involved in political activism and things that are near and dear to your heart.”
“Community to me means love, and that's what this shelter is about — it's about love for this community and showing kids in need that we care and that we're willing to work together for everybody.”
“Doing this project actually helped me realize I could love myself, and now that I can love myself as a proud gay man it's time for us to do what's right for the community and spread that love to everybody.”
“I really appreciate this recognition from our fund — it means a lot to me, but that's not why we did this. We did this for love, and I'm turning this recognition around and giving it back to the community because the community came together to make this happen.”
“I've got a 5960 Patek on a stainless steel bracelet, only produced for a year with the black dial — it's one of my most worn Pateks on a daily basis. I just absolutely love this watch: the case, the feel, the fit, the complications.”
“This watch is very personal to me — I purchased it in 2007 when I first moved to London. It was the first Patek that I ever purchased; it was platinum, it was stolen two years later, and only after a long search was I able to find another one just like it.”
“I look for watches that I'm going to wear — I'm not looking for watches that my father or grandfather would wear. I want contemporary timepieces that really speak to me and are differentiated in the market.”
“LV watches are produced by Fabrique (Fabri) DMS and those watchmakers are responsible for some of the finest watches made across many other brands. The makeup of these watches is very similar to what the Holy Trinity is doing — and honestly, I think the watch industry has moved on from the Holy Trinity.”
“I missed the boat on FP Journe for a long time, but when I finally jumped in I wanted something special — the Dubai edition with the green dial and strap really spoke to me. It reflects the decade I spent living and traveling in the Middle East and every time I put it on it reminds me of that period.”
“I recently purchased a De Bethune after studying the brand for over a year; articulating lugs made me hesitate at first but when I tried it on it fits beautifully. I could travel with this watch anywhere — it's an incredible timepiece on the wrist.”
“The HMC 800 movement inside this perpetual calendar is probably the easiest and simplest perpetual calendar watch not only to set but also to wear. You can set it forwards and backwards — I absolutely love this watch and it's made me a huge H. Moser fan.”
“When the basic Zeitwerk launched in 2009 I was amazed — here is a jumping digital display watch in mechanical form, which to me was an incredible engineering feat. The movement requires so much power they had to use a remontoir and a double barrel; it's unbelievable engineering.”
“When deciding on a watch I look at everything from the brand and its heritage to the design ethos and the movement. Innovation is a key factor in driving any watch producer forward — that, plus how the watch feels and whether it's something I'll actually wear, drives my choices.”
“I sing this song because I love the man; I know that some of you don't understand.”
Michael Kalb, recipient of the Philanthropist of the Year Award.
From iconic watches like the Patek Philippe Nautilus and A. Lange & Söhne Zeitwerk to smaller brands like De Bethune and H.
Recorded 08/22/20 Songlist: Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out-Needle and the Damage Done-Springboard into ...
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