COMINGS AND GOINGS

>> Asos founder Nick Robertson (right) has resigned as CEO. He founded the U.K.-based online fashion retailer in 2000.

>>?Natalie Massenet resigned as executive chairman of Net-a-Porter, the online luxury e-tailer she founded. The company is merging with Yoox Group.

>>?BJ’s Wholesale Club has appointed Christopher J. Baldwin its president and chief operating officer. Baldwin was most recently the CEO of Hess Retail Corp., which operates 1,300 convenience stores.

>>?J.C. Penney Co. has appointed John Tighe executive vice president, chief merchant. He has been with Penney’s since 2002. Elizabeth Sweney, the current chief merchant, will serve in an advisory role through the end of the fiscal year, and then retire.

Adam Graham

>>?Adam Graham, the former CEO of Erica Courtney, has been named vice president of Black, Starr & Frost and managing director of its Newport Beach, Calif., stor

>>?DGSE Companies, the metals, jewelry, and coins retailer and wholesaler, has named Matthew M. Peakes its chairman of the board, president, and CEO. Peakes was formerly director of business development for precious metal refiner and seller Elemetal, which is DGSE’s largest shareholder. 

>>?Gemstone manufacturer Eternity Natural Emeralds appointed Shawn O’Sullivan its new president. He was most recently the product development manager and buyer at Jewelry Television.

>>?Citychamp Watch & Jewellery Group has appointed Davide Traxler chief operating officer of Montres Corum.

Roopal Patel

>>?Saks Fifth Avenue has named Roopal Patel its fashion director. Patel most recently ran her own consulting agency and previously was the executive fashion director of luxury fashion online retailer Moda Operandi.    

COMPANIES

>>?The partnership behind New York City public relations firm LaForce+Stevens, which has represented jewelry clients including Swarovski, John Hardy, and Omega, is dissolving, according to a Sept. 17 New York Post report.

>>?EZCorp, the pawnshop operator headquartered in Austin, Texas, purchased 13 USA Pawn & Jewelry stores in Arizona and Oregon for $12.5 million cash.

>>?Legendary discounter Filene’s Basement, which closed in 2011 after its parent company, Syms Corp., filed for Chapter 11, has reopened as FilenesBasement.com, an e-commerce site.

REMEMBERED

>>?Gert Hellmuth, the soft-spoken curly-haired German designer known for his distinctive crocodile-patterned pieces and “Simply good” tagline, died Aug. 16 of cancer. He was 53. 

ASSOCIATIONS

>>?The Jewelers 24 Karat Club of Southern California honored Peter Yantzer, Mark Schneider, and Steve Weiss at its annual gala Oct. 10 at the Ritz-Carlton in Marina del Rey, Calif. Yantzer, executive director of AGS Laboratories, became the first-ever recipient of its Lifetime Service Award. Schneider of Mark Schneider Design and Weiss of Kirk Jewelers received Excellence in Service awards. 

>>?The American Gem Society announced that former secretary of state and retired four-star general Colin Powell will keynote its annual Conclave April 13–16, 2016, in Washington, D.C. Motivational speaker Joel Zeff will emcee. 

Joel Zeff