Signet Jewelers has named Zackery Hicks (pictured), the executive vice president and chief digital officer of Toyota Motors North America, an independent board member, it announced today.

Signet chairman Todd Stitzer said in a statement that Hicks will bring “diversity of experience” and a “start-up mindset” to the company’s board.

“As part of our Path to Brilliance transformation plan, we identified the need to continue to strengthen our digital and data analytics capabilities to advance each of our three strategic priorities: customer first, omnichannel, and a culture of agility and efficiency,” he said.

“[Hicks’] data analytics experience will be instrumental for Signet in our omnichannel strategy to improve individualized customer targeting.,” he added. “Our goal at Signet is to leverage systems for a stronger customer experience, especially on mobile.”

With Hicks’ appointment, the Signet board now consists of 12 directors. Six of those directors are women—a point CEO Virginia Drosos, a longtime board member herself, noted recently. Two current board members, Marianne Miller Parrs and Thomas Plaskett, are scheduled to retire next year.

As chief digital officer for Toyota motors, Hicks leads the automaker’s digital transformation and mobility group. He is also president and CEO of Toyota Connected, which oversees its connected-car ecosystem. After initial success in the United States, the program is expanding to Europe.

Hicks received an MBA from University of California, Irvine, and a BS in business management from Pepperdine University.

He has been listed on CIO magazine’s list of Ones to Watch and was named a Premier 100 IT Leader by Computerworld. Formerly, Hicks served as vice chairperson of the UCLA IS Associates and has been active with the March of Dimes.

Added Stitzer: “We look forward to benefiting from his perspectives as we develop an innovative data-driven shopping experience for our customers.”

(Image courtesy of Signet Jewelers)

Rob Bates

JCK News Director