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Melanie Chud Named Retail President of The 1916 Company as Damon Gross Departs February 12, 2026 (0 comments)
Bala Cynwyd, PA--The 1916 Company has announced the promotion of Melanie Chud to the position of retail president, effective this May. She will succeed Damon Gross, who is leaving the company in what a spokesperson described as a "planned and thoughtful" exit.
[Image via Melanie Chud/LinkedIn]
As detailed in a post by Watchpro, Gross joined The 1916 Company following its 2023 acquisition of Hyde Park Jewelers, where he had served as CEO. He originally took the helm at the West Coast retailer in 2019 following the retirement of Michael Pollak. Upon the acquisition, Gross assumed the role of retail president, reporting to 1916 Company CEO John Shmerler.
Chud brings a long history with the company's lineage, having previously worked as a luxury watch and jewelry buyer for Govberg Jewelers—one of the founding pillars of The 1916 Company—from 1997 to 2007. Her career also includes commercial roles at Fossil Group and Breitling, as well as a tenure as director of operations for Lancaster-based Brent L. Miller Jewelers. She rejoined the group in 2024 as vice president of retail.
More details are available in this report by Watchpro.