Michael Anthony Jewelers Inc., a marketer and manufacturer of gold jewelry, has named Claudia Hollingsworth as its new president. Hollingsworth recently resigned as chief customer officer of M.Z. Berger & Co. Inc., a major distributor of Elgin, Gruen, and Benrus watches.
George Prout has been appointed president, Independent Division of DesignWorks Jewelry Group (formerly O.D.I. Corp.). Prout has served in various capacities for the past seven years at the Secaucus, N.J.-based Gold and Diamond Merchants Group, most recently as vice president.
Michele Watches has announced the appointment of Mara Mittentag as the national retail coordinator for MW by Michele Watches. Mittentag will act as the ambassador between Michele Watches’ corporate office and all retail partners and retail staff.
Larry Williams, formerly of the Ronald W. Likes Co., has established Williams Lighting Source LLC, sales agency for W.A.C. Lighting in Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, and Missouri. The agency includes both Williams and Carter Likes, who represent the complete W.A.C. Lighting line throughout those states.
The Troy, Mich.-based jewelry wholesaler Leo Frank and Sons Inc. has named Melvin W. Schmidt as chief operations officer of LFS Consultants, a new affiliate of the 60-year-old firm that will offer a full range of retail consulting and liquidation services.
The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) has named Edward Johnson, G.G., to the newly created position of director of GIA’s London Branch. Johnson previously served as a gemology instructor at GIA Hong Kong, president of the Hong Kong Chapter of the GIA Alumni Association, and publication director of the Gemmological Association of Hong Kong.
The Tendence trade fair has appointed Heinrich Brümmer as its new event manager for the international consumer-goods fair, held each autumn in Frankfurt, Germany. Brümmer joined Messe Frankfurt in 1993 and has worked in the consumer-goods division since then.
Nancee Ann James has been elected to the board of directors of Jewelers Mutual Insurance Company. James has 19 years of management experience in financial services, including 10 years with the New York firm of PriceWaterhouseCoopers. Jewelers Mutual also re-elected three board members—Ronald R. Harder, Thomas D. Silver, and Charles A. Lasker.
Kristopher A. Kargel has been named vice president of marketing and business development for Chippenhook Corp., a Texas-based designer and manufacturer of displays and packaging. He will be responsible for creating additional Chippenhook brands, developing new business opportunities, and building a global strategy for the company.
Carol Pennelli has been named senior vice president of jewelry sales and education for David Yurman, New York. She brings to the position more than 13 years’ experience in management and business development as well as strategic brand building and brand management on global, national, and community levels.
Andranik Tutuyan has joined the Buxbaum Group as a business analyst in the firm’s asset appraisal business unit. The Calabasas, Calif.-based company provides inventory appraisal, auction, liquidation, and turnaround consulting services throughout the United States and Canada.