Specialty jeweler announces key executive changes
In addition to promoting three key executives and adding a new board member, Signet Jewelers is announcing the retirement of two company leaders.
The appointments include the following:
• Sebastian Hobbs, U.K. managing director, will be promoted to the newly-created role of president and chief customer officer. In this role, he will sharpen Signet’s focus on delivering a unified omnichannel customer experience across brick-and-mortar, mobile and digital retail platforms. He will also continue to oversee the compa-ny’s U.K. operations.
Hobbs will also lead store operations, merchandising and marketing, in-cluding the continued development of a best-in-class omnichannel experience. He will report to company CEO Mark Light.
• Emma Hayward, U.K. store operations director, will be promoted to executive director of the U.K. Division. In her new role, she is re-sponsible for maintaining the customer experience across the company’s U.K. businesses. She will report to Hobbs.
• Bryan Morgan, executive VP, supply chain management and re-pair, has been promoted to Signet’s COO role, which the company recently redefined. Thus, Morgan will be responsible for IT mod-ernization, transformational initiatives and achieving operational ef-ficiencies throughout Signet’s supply chain. He is replacing Ed Hrabak, who is retiring.
He will also continue his current responsibilities of expanding and harmonizing Signet’s international distribution centers and logistics, implementing enhancements to customer repair procedures, and improving the company’s strategic procurement processes. He will also report to Light.
• Brian Tilzer, CVS Health’s chief digital officer, has been appointed to the Signet Board of Directors. Signet expects the appointment to help the company expand its overall digital capabilities.
“Brian’s deep experience from his digital and e-commerce roles at major retailers, combined with his current work developing a breakthrough cus-tomer experience through digital in an omnichannel environment, are perfectly aligned with our priorities,” said Light. “We look forward to benefitting from his outstanding digital and retail expertise as we contin-ue to enhance our omnichannel capabilities.”
The company also announced the retirement of two long-time executives. Hrabak, who is being replaced by Hobbs, has held key merchandising and executive leadership roles during his 30 years at Signet.
Tryna Kochanek, executive VP, North American store operations, is also retiring after 30 years with the company. During her tenure, she has also held increasing leadership roles, and helped train and develop team members.