
Byron Clayton will fill the role beginning Feb 1.
Previously, he was deputy chief people officer at Ikea, a company that boasts more than 170,000 employees worldwide.
Prior to that, he held various human resources positions at Nokia, Microsoft, Maersk, AstraZeneca, and Mercer.
A U.S. citizen, Clayton currently resides in Copenhagen with his wife and two sons. His career has taken him to Singapore, Thailand, Finland, and the United Kingdom.
He has a master’s degree in strategy and leadership from London Business School and a bachelor’s degree in human resources and psychology from the University of North Texas.
Clayton will report to Pandora CEO Alexander Lacik and will have a spot on the company’s executive leadership team.
“Byron’s impressive resume cuts across multiple industries and geographies, and he has a great understanding of how to connect HR to commercial requirements,” said Lacik.
“He has shown that he can build strong organizations in complex environments, and his most recent experience at Ikea—an affordable global retail brand that caters to a mass-market audience—carries a lot of relevance to Pandora. I look forward to welcoming him to the team.”
Clayton said, “Pandora is one of the largest brands in Scandinavia, with a strong global presence and products that touch millions of consumers every day. The company has very exciting opportunities ahead, and I am thrilled to join at this time.”
He replaces Erik Schmidt, who joined Pandora in 2019 and is now retiring.
“Erik has been instrumental in shaping the Pandora organization for our growth journey, and I would like to express my sincere thanks for his contributions. After more than 30 years in business, Erik has decided to retire from corporate life, and I wish him nothing but the best in his next chapter,” said Lacik.
The Latest

The $400 pocket watch is a blend of Audemars Piguet’s iconic eight-sided Royal Oak and Swatch’s unserious Pop watches from the ‘80s.

With gold prices on the rise, the “Modern Electrum” collection uses an alternative, non-tarnishing metal alloy composed of gold and silver.

Fruchtman Marketing has new owners, Erin Moyer-Carballea and Manuel Carballea, and will relocate to Miami.

With the trade and customer trust in mind, GIA® developed NextGem™ – on-demand training designed specifically for retail.

In a column for the 2026 State of the Majors issue, Smith lists 10 time-tested principles about sales that still ring true.


In a column for the 2026 State of the Majors issue, Golan spells out how the growing economic divide in the U.S. is reshaping the market.

The “Limitless Expansion of Joy and Hope” collection evokes summer through colored gemstones and motifs of butterflies and florals.

Gain access to the most exclusive and coveted antique pieces from trusted dealers during Las Vegas Jewelry Week.

The jewel, circa 1890, is from the late Victorian era and was owned by descendants of the last high king of Ireland.

This is what the nine recipients plan to do with the funds.

The Western star’s 14-karat gold signet ring sold for six times its low estimate following a bidding war at U.K. auction house Elmwood’s.

The discussion, "Rebuilding the Jewelry Workforce," will take place on Saturday, May 16, in Troy, Michigan.

The jewelry industry is reassessing its positioning as Gen Z reshapes the retail landscape and lab grown continues to gain market share.

A matching pair of 18.38-carat, D-color diamonds from Botswana’s Jwaneng mine sold for $3.3 million, the top lot of the jewelry auction.

Sponsored by A Diamond Is Forever

The next generation of lapidarists are entrepreneurial, engaged online, and see the craft as a means for artistic expression.

It was the second auction appearance for the fancy vivid blue-green diamond, which sold for $7.8 million at Christie’s Geneva 12 years ago.

Members of the U.S. Marshals Task Force took a 22-year-old man into custody. He was charged with tampering with evidence.

While the overall number of crimes was down, there were more incidences in which robbers pulled out guns, mace, or rammed cars into stores.

Jack Sutton Fine Jewelry is closing its store inside the downtown shopping center after 40 years in business.

Reena Ahluwalia’s painting of the rare red diamond is the first contemporary painting to join the National Gem Collection.

The price of gold has risen, affecting the number of pieces designers make, the materials they use, and how they position themselves.

Peter Smith gives tips on leading meetings, developing marketing, and making trade show appointments in the age of short attention spans.

The 11-piece “Medallions” capsule collection features five motifs: a crying eye, a heart on fire, a spiral, a flower, and a swallow.

From Gen Z’s view of luxury to “doom spending,” these are the six consumer trends to note this year.

The partners have announced the second cycle of the program, which has expanded to include a $25,000 student scholarship.

The owners of Staats Jewelers are heading into retirement.

























