Tiffany's names new finance execs

NEW YORK— Tiffany & Co. announced thatPatrick McGuiness has been appointed SVP and CFO and thatJames Fernandez has been appointed to the newly-created role of COO.

McGuiness joined Tiffany in 1990 and has held a variety of management positions within the finance and merchandising divisions. He was promoted to senior vice president - finance in 2007, responsible for Tiffany's worldwide financial functions. With this appointment, he will continue to be responsible for accounting, treasury, financial planning and financial services and will now also be responsible for the company's investor relations program.

Fernandez has served as the company's CFO since 1989 and was promoted to EVP and CFO in 1998. Over the years he added other responsibilities including diamond operations, real estate operations, distribution, manufacturing, customer service and security. He joined Tiffany in 1983.

Michael Kowalski, chairman and CEO, said, "These two executives have both developed first-class finance and operations functions, and I consider this to be a natural progression consistent with the company's continuing organizational development."

As EVP and COO, Fernandez will continue to report to Kowalski. As SVP and CFO, McGuiness will continue to report to Fernandez.