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MIAMI, FL--Starboard Cruise Services, which provides duty-free shopping experiences on cruise liners, has named jewelry industry veteran, Caryl Capeci as SVP Fine Jewelry & Watches, and Benito Mendez as SVP of Merchandising and Planning.

Starboard, an LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton company, says it continues to grow with new and current cruise line partners, and that these companies are adding ships throughout the world. Its partnerships with more than 750 brands continue to grow as well. Starboard said its strategy is to strengthen its senior leadership team, reinforcing its positive outlook for cruise retail.

Capeci joined Starboard as a strategic advisor in January. In her new role, she is charged with increasing the company’s fine jewelry and Swiss timepiece categories.

Capeci last served as CEO of Chow Tai Fook North America, which owns diamond jewelry brands, Hearts On Fire and Mémoire. With Hearts On Fire, she held multiple leadership positions before becoming president in 2016. Prior to Hearts On Fire, Capeci’s career spanned both the jewelry and Cruise industries leading the agency marketing teams for DeBeers Diamonds at JWT and then Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises as an EVP at Havas/Arnold. All totaled she has 30 years of experience in the jewelry and cruise industries.

“With the strong rebound of the cruise industry, luxury retail at sea is perfectly positioned to capture a greater share of the fine jewelry and watch market, providing jewelry and watch brands a highly unique and experiential approach to retail, where guests can learn and appreciate a brand throughout the voyage, and mark their vacation experience with a special purchase,” Starboard said in a statement.

Mendez previously worked for Starboard for 16 years at increasingly senior roles, before becoming VP of Merchandising and Planning. “He is a seasoned senior retail executive with a proven track record of driving revenue growth and operational excellence in the retail industry. With a career spanning over two decades,” Starboard said. Benito started his professional journey with Macy’s executive management program where he held various merchandising roles. Benito also led the retail strategy, product development, e-commerce and licensing for Hard Rock International.