Sterling Jewelers has named David Gaynes to the newly created post of vice president of corporate product development.

“We are very excited to be able to add someone with the level of experience and the impressive track record of success that David offers,” Stuart Lee, senior vice president of merchandising and general merchandise manager at Sterling Jewelers, said in a statement.

“This addition is a reflection of our continued efforts to promote an aggressive and proactive view towards product development to ensure we are always meeting our customers’ needs and staying ahead of the latest trends.”

Gaynes will assist the merchandising teams in all aspects of product design, procurement, and trend identification. He also will serve as a liaison with key suppliers and partners, investigate and develop opportunities for product innovation, contribute to forming new strategic partnerships, and collaborate with the merchandising and marketing departments on new initiatives and product launches.

Gaynes started his jewelry career in 1981 and worked most recently for Jewel America, where he was the executive vice president of sales and product development. He previously worked with such suppliers as Tessler and Weiss, Feature Ring, Kurgan, Fredrick Goldman, and Firestone.

JCK