Signet Hires New Financial Chief

RAPAPORT... Signet Jewelers has appointed Joan Hilson chief financialofficer, as part of an effort to strengthen its leadership team. The former David's Bridal executive - who also managed finances forAmerican Eagle Outfitters and Victoria's Secret - will begin at the company onApril 4. The outgoing chief financial officer, Michele Santana, will continuein her role until then, and will remain with the company through the end ofApril to assist with the transition, Signet said Wednesday. "[Joan] is an accomplished retail executive with extensivefinancial and operational experience," Signet CEO Gina Drosos said. "I amconfident that Signet will benefit from her transformational experiences and perspective,as we accelerate our Path to Brilliance transformation efforts." Signet launched its three-year transformation, the Path toBrilliance program, in March 2017 to realign the company with consumer demandfollowing weak sales. As part of the initiative, Signet will implement a neworganizational structure that will combine the leadership of its Kay, Zales andPeoples banners into one team, it said last year. That team includes Jamie Singleton, who has been promoted fromexecutive vice president of Zales and Peoples to president of Kay, Zales andPeoples. Her responsibilities include merchandising, marketing and e-commercefor those banners. Bill Luth, a 30-year Signet veteran, will move from his role asexecutive vice president of Kay to executive vice president of global storeoperations, while Kecia Caffie, general merchandise manager of Piercing Pagoda,will become senior vice president for the brand. All three will report toSignet's president, Seb Hobbs. "[The new roles] add significant capability to our coremerchandising, marketing and store operations," Drosos added. "This is the keyto accelerating our customer-first strategy in year two of our Path toBrilliance transformation." Image: Joan Hilson. (Bright Pink)