Expands Digital Expertise through Appointment of Brian A. Tilzer to
Board of Directors
HAMILTON, Bermuda--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Signet Jewelers Limited (NYSE:SIG), the world’s largest retailer of
diamond jewelry, announced several organizational changes designed to
enable execution of key business priorities including strengthening
customer service, enhancing digital capabilities and driving profitable
growth.
Senior Organizational Changes Include:
-
Creating a new President & Chief Customer Officer role to sharpen
Signet’s focus on delivering an exceptional and unified omni-channel
customer experience across brick-and-mortar, mobile and digital retail
platforms
-
Creating a new Chief Retail Insights and Strategy Officer role to
consolidate and enhance retail analytics, consumer insights and
strategy functions to drive strategy across the business
-
Consolidating responsibility for IT modernization, transformational
initiatives and achieving operational efficiencies throughout Signet’s
supply chain under the Chief Operations Officer
-
Announcing the retirement of two long-time executives: Ed Hrabak,
Signet Chief Operations Officer; and Tryna Kochanek, EVP, North
American Store Operations
-
Expanding Signet’s overall digital capabilities by adding a digital
expert to Signet’s Board of Directors
Chief Executive Officer Mark Light said, “We continue to align our
organization and priorities with our Vision 2020 strategy and the
changing retail environment, characterized by evolving shopping habits
and increasing customer expectations for an outstanding digital
experience. We are investing and directing more resources to improve the
overall customer omni-channel journey, re-emphasizing our commitment to
the customer experience and enhancing our analytics function to ensure
we are offering products and services that appeal to today’s and
tomorrow’s customers. These changes and investments support the
long-term growth of our business and build upon our competitive
strengths and leading market position.”
Exceptional Customer Experience
The Company announced the promotion of Sebastian Hobbs, UK Managing
Director, to the newly created role of President and Chief Customer
Officer.
“We view this new role of President & CCO as critically important to the
future success of our organization,” said CEO Mark Light. “As the
world’s largest diamond jewelry retailer, Signet is committed to
continually earning the trust of our customers and ensuring they have a
world-class experience. Seb’s experience uniquely positions him to
succeed in this newly created role which reflects the importance we
place on the customer experience at Signet. We are confident Seb will
provide the leadership necessary to provide our customers with a strong
voice and build a highly attentive and responsive omni-channel
organization.”
Mr. Hobbs will report directly to Signet’s CEO and have global
responsibility for leading all three of Signet’s critical,
customer-facing functions: Store Operations, Merchandising and
Marketing, including the continued development of a best-in-class
omni-channel experience. Mr. Hobbs’ experience includes nearly six years
at Signet, along with broad retail General Management and Commercial
executive experience, and successful leadership of the UK Division’s
business.
Signet also announced that Emma Hayward will be promoted to Executive
Director of the UK Division, reporting to Mr. Hobbs, who will continue
to oversee UK operations in his role as President & CCO. Currently UK
Store Operations Director, Ms. Hayward has more than 20 years of
experience in increasing retail leadership responsibilities, including
12 years in a number of management roles leading store operations at
Signet.
Mark Light added, “Emma Hayward will be promoted to Executive Director
of the UK Division, reporting to Seb, who will continue to oversee UK
operations. We believe her commitment and experience will ensure an
unparalleled customer experience across our UK businesses.”
Ensuring Efficiency and Infrastructure Excellence
Bryan Morgan, EVP, Supply Chain Management and Repair, has been promoted
to Signet’s new Chief Operations Officer reporting to CEO Mark Light.
“The ongoing modernization of Signet’s IT systems is critical to meeting
increasing consumer demand and supporting an exceptional online shopping
experience,” said Light. “Bryan will be responsible for working closely
with our Chief Information Officer to deliver against our IT systems
objectives.”
Mr. Morgan will also lead Signet’s transformational initiatives and
operational efficiency objectives, in addition to his current
responsibilities for the expansion and harmonization of Signet’s
international distribution centers and logistics, implementing
enhancements to customer repair procedures, and continuously improving
the Company’s strategic procurement processes.
Leveraging Consumer Insights and Analytics
George Murray, Chief Merchandising and Marketing Officer, has been named
to the new role of Chief Retail Insights and Strategy Officer, reporting
to CEO Mark Light. The move reflects the increasing complexity and scope
of the business and a greater emphasis on retail and consumer data to
drive strategy across the business.
Mr. Murray will continue to play a key role on Signet’s Executive
Committee. He will also focus on identifying strategic opportunities for
future growth, building out a world-class retail analytics function and
fully integrating our retail analytics capabilities with the Strategy
team.
Expanding Digital Expertise on Signet’s Board of
Directors
In a companion press release, Signet has announced that Brian A. Tilzer,
currently Chief Digital Officer at CVS Health, has been appointed to the
Signet Board of Directors.
“Brian’s deep experience from his digital and e-commerce roles at major
retailers, combined with his current work developing a breakthrough
customer experience through digital in an omni-channel environment, are
perfectly aligned with our priorities, said Mark Light. “We are thrilled
that Brian will be joining our Board, and we look forward to benefitting
from his outstanding digital and retail expertise as we continue to
enhance our omni-channel capabilities.”
Mr. Tilzer has more than 20 years of experience in strategic business
development, operations and information technology, with a deep
concentration in corporate and ecommerce strategy. Prior to joining CVS
Health, Tilzer was the Senior Vice President of Global e-Commerce with
Staples, where he developed and led several multi-channel digital
innovation strategies. Tilzer holds a BA from Tufts University and an
MBA from The Wharton School.
Key Retirements
In addition to the new leadership position appointments, Signet is
announcing the retirement of two long-time executives: Ed Hrabak, Signet
Chief Operations Officer; and Tryna Kochanek, EVP, North American Store
Operations. Each executive has committed to ensuring a smooth transition
prior to departure.
“With a career spanning nearly 40 years, including 30 years at Signet in
key Merchandising and executive leadership roles, Ed has earned a
distinguished global reputation throughout the jewelry industry. As he
steps down from his COO role, we want to recognize his values-driven
leadership, which has been instrumental in our rapid profitable growth
and performance excellence.”
Mr. Light continued, “We greatly value Tryna’s many contributions to our
organization since she began her career at Signet 30 years ago. Tryna
has taken on increasingly significant Store Operations leadership roles
throughout her career and her dedication to developing team members and
her commitment to measurable excellence had a tremendous impact on
Signet’s growth and success.”
“We want to express our heartfelt appreciation for Ed’s and Tryna’s
dedication and countless contributions to Signet over these past three
decades and we wish them the very best in their retirements.”
About Signet and Safe Harbor Statement
Signet Jewelers Limited is the world's largest retailer of diamond
jewelry. Signet operates approximately 3,600 stores primarily under the
name brands of Kay Jewelers, Zales, Jared The Galleria Of Jewelry,
H.Samuel, Ernest Jones, Peoples and Piercing Pagoda. Further information
on Signet is available at www.signetjewelers.com.
See also www.kay.com,
www.zales.com,
www.jared.com,
www.hsamuel.co.uk,
www.ernestjones.co.uk,
www.peoplesjewellers.com
and www.pagoda.com.
This release contains statements which are forward-looking statements
within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995. These statements, based upon management’s beliefs and expectations
as well as on assumptions made by and data currently available to
management, appear in a number of places throughout this document and
include statements regarding, among other things, Signet’s results of
operation, financial condition, liquidity, prospects, growth, strategies
and the industry in which Signet operates. The use of the words
“expects,” “intends,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “predicts,”
“believes,” “should,” “potential,” “may,” “forecast,” “objective,”
“plan,” or “target,” and other similar expressions are intended to
identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements
are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to a number of
risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to general economic
conditions, to general economic conditions, regulatory changes following
the United Kingdom's announcement to exit from the European Union, a
decline in consumer spending, the merchandising, pricing and inventory
policies followed by Signet, the reputation of Signet and its brands,
the level of competition in the jewelry sector, the cost and
availability of diamonds, gold and other precious metals, regulations
relating to customer credit, seasonality of Signet’s business, financial
market risks, deterioration in customers’ financial condition, exchange
rate fluctuations, changes in Signet's credit rating, changes in
consumer attitudes regarding jewelry, management of social, ethical and
environmental risks, security breaches and other disruptions to Signet’s
information technology infrastructure and databases, inadequacy in and
disruptions to internal controls and systems, changes in assumptions
used in making accounting estimates relating to items such as extended
service plans and pensions, risks related to Signet being a Bermuda
corporation, the impact of the acquisition of Zale Corporation on
relationships, including with employees, suppliers, customers and
competitors, and our ability to successfully integrate Zale
Corporation's operations and to realize synergies from the transaction.
For a discussion of these risks and other risks and uncertainties which
could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in
any forward looking statement, see the "Risk Factors" section of
Signet's Fiscal 2016 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on
March 24, 2016 and Part II, Item 1A of Form 10-Q filed November 29,
2016. Signet undertakes no obligation to update or revise any
forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or
circumstances, except as required by law.
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Source: Signet Jewelers Limited