Articles and News

BRAND NEWS: PANDORA GETS NEW CEO, CBS GIVES AWAY DEMARCO JEWELRY, HERMES WARDS OFF TAKEOVER, MORE December 22, 2011 (0 comments)

Pandora Names New CEO; Interim CEO Moves to Board of Directors March 1.

Copenhagen, Denmark--Björn Gulden, an executive with a company that operates a chain of off-price shoe stores, has been named president of Pandora, the company announced this week. Gulden is the executive director of the Deichmann Group, a German-based company with 3,000 shoe and sporting goods in 25 countries. According to this article in National Jeweler, Gulden was CEO of the group's retail chains Rack Room Shoes and Off Broadway Shoes, both of which offer discounted designer shoes and have multiple locations in the United States. Previously, Gulden was senior vice president of apparel and accessories at sporting goods giant Adidas, and was part of the management group that took the company public. Pandora launched an IPO in September of this year and has been plagued with falling sales, leading to the resignation of its former CEO, Mikkel Vendelin Olesen. 

Pandora interim CEO Marcello Bottoli moves to the company's board of directors as deputy chairman March 1, 2012. He will report the company's 2011 results on February 21, 2012.

 

Tourneau Reexamines, Revamps Digital Strategy

New York, NY—Luxury watch retailer Tourneau is boosting its digital presence by revamping its website and optimizing it for mobile. According to a recent article in Luxury Daily, the goal is to provide a consistent, seamless multichannel experience. The site is now available for both tablets and smartphones.

Donald McNichol, senior vice president for the retailer, told Luxury Daily that Tourneau timepieces are heavily researched, and the retailer wants to provide that engagement with the brand prior to purchase.

Read the entire Tourneau transformation article here.

 

Edward Mirell “Fosters The People”

Miami, FL—Mark Foster of Foster The People, left, recently wore this Edward Mirell titanium and 18k gold Cable Sport Cross during the “Jingle Ball” concert sponsored by local rock radio station Y100.

  

 

Ballroom Dance Celebrity Wears Le Vian’s Ball Earrings

Los Angeles, CA—Actress and professional ballroom dancer Julianne Hough (left) recently was spotted wearing Le Vian’s pave diamond ball earrings (right) to  "Trevor Live!" at The Hollywood Palladium on December 4.

          

 

Demarco Jewelry Makes Top Chen List

New York, NY—Julie Chen, one of the hosts of CBS’s The Talk, recently named Demarco Bridal Jewelry to the number-three spot on her famous “Top Chen List” of desired items for Christmas. A Demarco piece was given away on the December 14 show. Click here to watch the video.

CBS' The Talk recently featured Demarco Bridal Jewelry.

 

Monet Celebrated in New Wristwatch

Paris, France—Damoiselle D announces the launch of the Damoiselle O watch, a tribute to the painting series “Water Lilies” by Claude Monet. As the flow of time was the focus of the painting, the watch’s oval shape in white gold reflects the orbit of the planets around the sun, while its enameled blue face represents the harmony of the color.

Monet was the pre-eminent representative of the Impressionist movement, and focused on the variations of light and color in his works. The “Water Lilies” series was a search for the infinite, according to a Damoiselle D company statement.

 

Hermes Pushes Back at LVMH

Paris, France—The battle continues between luxury conglomerate LVMH (Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton), which wants to acquire historic French luxury purveyor Hermes, and the Hermes family, which does not want its eponymous company to be acquired.

According to a recent report in Women’s Wear Daily, LVMH has upped its stake in the firm to 22.3% of shares, a day after the Hermes family announced the creation of a non-listed holding company grouping more than 50% of its share capital in an effort to ward off takeover. LVMH’s stake now gives it 16% of voting rights, one point above the 15% required for market notification, the paper reports. 

Although LVMH chair Bernard Arnault claims he has no plans for a full takeover, the Hermes family considers LVMH an unwelcome suitor.

The firm, founded in 1837 by Thierry Hermes, began as a saddle maker but today is best known for its costly handbags and collectible silk scarves. It also has a line of luxury timepieces.