Alex and Ani has nabbed a top executive at jewelry buyer CIRCA and will make 250 more hires as part of a planned expansion that includes six new stores.
Jayne Fitzpatrick-Conway, who until recently had been the top-ranking executive at CIRCA, fulfilling both the chief operating officer and chief financial officer roles, has joined Alex and Ani as chief financial officer. Her background includes top roles at Dunkin’ Brands, Gulf Oil, and Planet Fitness.
She replaces CFO David Rozen, who has been in the role a little more than a year and left to “pursue other opportunities.”
CIRCA did not return a request for comment at press time.
The company also remains without a CEO to replace Giovanni Feroce—who resigned in March—with founder and creative director Carolyn Rafaelian currently serving in that position. However, the company is still searching for a person to fill the role of CEO.
Spokesperson Gregg Perry said there is “no timetable for an announcement, as we want to make sure we identify the right person, rather than filling the position quickly.”
The brand is opening at least six new stores this year. One just opened in Annapolis, Md., this past weekend, and another opened in the Miracle Mile Shops in Las Vegas last month. Alex and Ani currently has 38 stores total.
Stores are planned for McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas; Sarasota, Fla.; Pittsburgh; and Buffalo, N.Y.
The company also recently signed a licensing deal with toy maker Hasbro, to create charm bangles based on the board game Monopoly.
The company plans to add 250 more jobs nationwide—including 180 full- and part-time positions to support the stores, and another 70 on the corporate level, in both its headquarters in Providence, R.I., and its New York City office.
It also hired two more executives with jewelry experience. Igor Bekker has been appointed vice president of e-commerce. He was previously head of e-commerce for Swatch. Jeff Thomas has been appointed senior director of human resources. Prior to this, he was an HR business partner and talent acquisition manager for Swarovski.
Other hires:
– Wendy Duncan has been hired as senior vice president of marketing. Previously, she was vice president of global digital marketing for Staples.
– Tarik Chaudhary has been appointed senior vice president of information technology. He most recently served as the lead IT merchandising solutions architect for the TJX Companies.
– Mary Beth Schneider is now serving as vice president and deputy general counsel, corporate operations. Her prior experience includes working as associate general counsel at A.T. Cross.
– Jane Danek will serve alongside her as vice president and deputy general counsel, finance and compliance. She previously worked at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton and Garrison in New York City.
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