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New York, NY--Mikimoto America has appointed Kentaro Nishimura as its new president and chief executive officer, effective April 1. The announcement was reported by WWD and published via Yahoo Life.

[Image via Kentaro Nishimura/LinkedIn]

Nishimura brings over 25 years of experience with Mikimoto, having begun his tenure in Tokyo in 1997. According to the report, he initially managed retail and wholesale gift operations, later joining the custom product team to design bespoke pieces for corporate clients.

In 2000, Nishimura relocated to the United States and held several positions, including assistant manager in Las Vegas. Over time, he took on leadership roles in purchasing and merchandising and eventually became chief operating officer of Mikimoto America, the article noted.

Nishimura now reports to Yasuhiko Hashimoto, Mikimoto's global COO. According to the report, Hashimoto took over the role of president and CEO of Mikimoto America in 2019 after the departure of Toshiyuki Kuma. Hashimoto will now focus on Mikimoto's global operations.

In a statement quoted by WWD, Nishimura expressed his intent to continue driving strategic growth through selective retail expansion, elevated client experiences, and meaningful digital transformation. He also noted the challenge of balancing tradition with innovation, citing collaborations with Chrome Hearts and Comme des Garçons as examples of expanding the brand's creative dimensions.

The report also highlighted Nishimura's mention of conch pearls as an example of Mikimoto's efforts to push boundaries in pearl jewelry design.

Mikimoto America currently operates four freestanding U.S. stores in New York, Beverly Hills, Costa Mesa (California), and Las Vegas. According to the report, the brand also retails through its website, independent jewelers, and select department stores.

Learn more in this news report by WWD on Yahoo Life.