Van Scoy Jewelers recently welcomed Graduate Gemologist Linda Kummerer to the staff. Her responsibilities will include appraisals of customers’ fine jewelry as well as new jewelry sales and service. Prior to joining Van Scoy Jewelers, her extensive industry experience included working as an appraiser, designer, and sales consultant. She is a graduate of Kutztown University with a BFA in Jewelry Design and Production and earned a G.G. degree from the Gemological Institute of America.
Montblanc North America has appointed Jan-Patrick Schmitz as president and CEO. Schmitz, who has been with the company since 1994, is director of the International Executive Committee and head of global supply chain management at Montblanc’s International Headquarters in Hamburg, Germany. Previously, he was president and CEO of Montblanc Japan. Karsten Martens, Montblanc North America’s president and CEO for the last four years, will assume responsibility for the global travel retail business.
Mayors Jewelers Inc. announced the appointment of Diane Oliver as group vice president, marketing, and Holly Brubach as creative director. Oliver held the same position with Birks, the Canadian jewelry chain that assumed control of Mayors in August 2002. She will be responsible for the strategic and creative direction of communications for both Mayors and Birks including advertising, public relations, and special events. Oliver also will be the marketing spokesperson for both brands. Brubach will oversee product development for the company as well as directing Mayors’ merchandising strategies and visual presentation. She also will serve as product spokesperson for the company and will hold the same position with Birks.
Long’s Jewelers has announced the appointment of Jacqueline Grande Raffi as vice president of sales and strategic planning. Raffi joins Long’s after a nine-year association with Shreve, Crump & Low, where she most recently held the position of vice president of sales and store operations.
The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) announced that Christopher P. Smith has joined the GIA Gem Laboratory, New York, as manager of gemological research. Smith’s responsibilities will include establishing the focus of the institute’s research efforts on gem materials and treatments, as well as assisting in the development of new gemological identification services.
Brian Curtiss has been named vice president of marketing at Sterling Jewelers Inc. Curtiss will be responsible primarily for building and accelerating the growth of the company’s retail jewelry store brands.
Cartier has announced the appointment of Robert Atkinson to serve as manager of the firm’s San Francisco boutique. He will be responsible for the boutique’s daily operations as well as furthering Cartier within the community through various philanthropic and arts related activities. Cartier also appointed Cedric Tonello as manager of the Boston boutique. In 2001, Cartier hired Tonello as a retail operations coordinator assisting all North American stores in their daily operations, including the opening of new boutiques.
QVC announced the appointment of Catherine Coquillard to the position of vice president of jewelry merchandising. Coquillard has more than 23 years of jewelry merchandising experience, most recently with Mervyn’s Department Store in California as vice president of jewelry and accessories. Stuller Inc. has appointed three new business vice presidents: Harold Dupuy, BVP, finished jewelry; Joe Orlando, BVP, gemstones; and Darrell Warren, BVP, tools/packaging/fabricated metals. Previously, Dupuy was director of product management in the marketing division; Orlando was director of gemstones/ gemstone buyer in the diamond and gemstone division; and Warren was executive director of purchased products in the logistics division.
The Rosen Group has promoted Kurt Herring to general manager of the publishing division and has hired Rebecca Cason as general manager of the show division. Herring joined TRG in 1997 and was most recently advertising director for AmericanStyle and NICHE magazines. Cason has more than 20 years’ experience in business-to-business marketing, business analysis and management consulting and most recently was the senior associate in managerial leadership theory and practice for the Requisite Organization International Institute.