Dive Brief:
- Kendra Scott has named Adrienne Gernand its first chief business officer, effective April 27, according to a company press release.
- In her new role, Gernand will be responsible for broadening the scope of the Kendra Scott brand through category growth and global expansion.
- Gernand comes with experience helping scale such retail brands as Old Navy, Gap, Banana Republic, Athleta and The Children's Place. She has worked on new market entry models, the optimization of real estate portfolios and the formation of strategic partnerships.
Dive Insight:
Kendra Scott CEO Chris Blakeslee is building out a leadership team geared at expanding the brand and diversifying its business.
Gernand, who has extensive experience at Blakeslee’s former employer, Gap Inc., will assume her new role on the same day the company welcomes Mike McMullen as its new chief financial officer. McMullen most recently was CFO of Yeti.
"We are investing in world-class leadership and strengthening our global retail capabilities as we evolve into an attainable luxury house," Blakeslee said in a statement.
Of Gernand specifically, Blakeslee touted her “proven track record for identifying high potential growth opportunities.”
“Her appointment lays the foundation for advancing the brand onto the global stage and into new product categories,” Blakeslee said. “Her ability to navigate complex retail environments, spanning emerging companies to large, established organizations, makes her uniquely qualified to accelerate our expansion strategy."
The former CEO of Athleta, Blakeslee first took on the Kendra Scott CEO role in January, filling a position that was vacant for several months after longtime brand executive Tom Nolan left the company. Founder Kendra Scott stepped down as CEO in 2021, but still remains executive chairwoman, chief visionary officer and majority shareholder of the company.
Blakeslee’s emphasis on category and geographic growth marks the continuation of a strategy the retailer has pursued for years. The brand in 2024 secured a significant minority investment from private equity firm 65 Equity Partners with the intention of expanding “across channels, geographies, and categories.”
The company in 2023 launched Yellow Rose by Kendra Scott, a separate Western-oriented lifestyle brand offering vintage looks in hats, footwear, apparel, home goods and more. That banner opened multiple stores in Texas two years ago and has now opened a Nashville, Tennessee, retail location that includes a cocktail bar.
Kendra Scott launched a fragrance collection in 2023 and added a Lab Grown Diamond collection in 2024. The retailer has also moved into eyewear and footwear.
