Dive Brief:
- Accessories lifestyle brand Kendra Scott has named Chris Blakeslee its new chief executive officer, effective Monday.
- Blakeslee previously served as CEO of Athleta from 2023 to 2025. He also has leadership experience at Alo Yoga and Bella+Canvas.
- Following the leadership transition, Kendra Scott will remain executive chairwoman, chief visionary officer and majority shareholder.
Dive Insight:
Scott stepped down as CEO in 2021, and longtime brand executive Tom Nolan was appointed to the top post. Nolan left the company last August.
Scott cites Blakeslee’s “forward-looking vision” as key to executing the brand’s strategy. At Alo Yoga, he was credited with helping scale the brand from $50 million to over $1 billion in less than five years, according to the release.
"Chris understands our customer-first mission, and I'm excited to see him lead with purpose—driving strategic growth and deepening brand affinity," Scott said in a statement. "Chris honors my vision while adding a dynamic perspective, making him the ideal steward for our next phase of growth."
The jewelry brand has been expanding in recent years, including launching a fragrance collection in late 2023 and a lab-grown diamond collection in 2024. The company has also expanded its Yellow Rose by Kendra Scott brand through brick-and-mortar stores.
"Kendra has built an extraordinary brand grounded in a deeply customer-first, experience-driven approach," Blakeslee said in a statement. "I'm energized by the opportunity to bring the world of Kendra Scott to life in richer, more immersive ways across product, environment, community, and culture — building on the strong foundation already in place as we shape the brand's next era."
