Pandora Promotes GM to Chief of Retail Operations
Massimo Basei is moving up, while Chief Commercial Officer Martino Pessina is stepping down.

In addition, Pandora said Monday that Chief Commercial Officer Martino Pessina is stepping down, and all nine market clusters now will report directly to CEO Alexander Lacik.
Basei will report to Lacik as well and serve on the jewelry company’s executive leadership team. His promotion will be effective April 1.
Sara Bergiotti, currently sales director of Pandora’s Southern Europe, Middle East and Africa cluster, will take over as general manager.
Pandora said the change is part of its two-year restructuring plan, dubbed “Phoenix,” which includes moving its North American headquarters to New York from Baltimore, among other changes.
Pandora said after implementing operational changes it is now “turning its attention outwards to further accelerate brand desire as well as delivering a world-class customer experience.”
As chief of retail operations, Basei will be responsible for heading operations across the company’s 6,500 points of sale in more than 100 markets. This will include opening new stores, managing relationships with franchisees, the omnichannel experience, store development and merchandising.
“I am happy Massimo will take the role as chief of retail operations,” Lacik said. “Over the past 13 years, he has established Italy as one of Pandora’s largest markets and built an exceptionally strong position for the brand.
“I thank Martino for taking our retail operations … forward by expanding our store network and evolving our omnichannel approach.”
Basei is an Italian national who joined Pandora as country manager for Italy in 2010. Since then, he has taken on additional responsibility, leading commercial operations across Southern Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
He currently lives in Milan, Italy, with his wife and three children. They will relocate to Copenhagen later in the year.
Basei holds a master’s in economics from Università degli Studi di Trieste.
The Latest

These customer behavior patterns say a lot about how successful your jewelry store is going to be this year, Emmanuel Raheb writes.

Mejuri’s popular collection of 18-karat yellow gold vermeil rings debuted in sterling silver alongside new “Puzzle” slider charms.

The Miami-based jewelry brand and the NYC-based artist will be in Dallas from April 9-11.

You deserve to know what you are selling–to protect your customers as well as your business and your reputation.

The initiative invites those in the industry to share stories on social media highlighting the meaning and impact of natural diamonds.


Wolk’s first day on the job as CEO of Tracr, De Beers Group’s blockchain platform, will be May 1.

Moses, who will leave the lab in May after nearly 50 years, discusses his start in the business, gemstones that stand out, and what’s next.

Every jeweler faces the same challenge: helping customers protect what they love. Here’s the solution designed for today’s jewelry business.

The new catalog, which showcases 35 one-of-a-kind pieces of jewelry, is a compliment to the company’s popular holiday catalog.

Production has ceased at the Canadian diamond mine, which has yielded more than 150 million carats of rough diamonds in its 23-year run.

West, who started in the art department at the Leading Jewelers Guild in 1979, is remembered for his patience, kindness, and dedication.

In the “Tesoro” version of the ring, our Piece of the Week, each side of the gold hexagonal nugget has a unique colored gemstone design.

Cohen discusses the evolution of Citizen’s light-powered technology, the brand’s cross-generational appeal, and tariffs.

“Essentially Human: On Sales and Salespeople" reveals the underlying human traits and behaviors of the most successful sales professionals.

The collection features symbols of love, luck, and light, based on the story of Queen Cassandane and Cyrus the Great of Persia.

It’s the third scholarship to be launched as part of the partnership to help appraisers advance their professional credentials.

The deadline for entries in the jewelry design competition has been extended to April 3.

After 28 years with JCK, the veteran industry journalist is launching his own publication on Substack called The Jewelry Wire.

Wiley said the project will give scientists worldwide access to the American Museum of Natural’s History renowned mineral collection.

The “Flower Puff” collection looks to beaded flower friendship bracelets from childhood, turning the silhouette into nostalgic fine jewelry.

Set for April 2, the webinar will discuss how the jewelry industry can address the workforce gap.

Bayer, founder of Lisa Bayer Designs, is remembered as “a bright light in every room.”

The highest-grossing lot was a Tiffany & Co. ring set with a flawless, emerald-cut diamond of 10 carats.

The next three editions of AGTA GemFair Tucson will feature a five-day show that includes Sunday.

Former Sotheby’s executive Tom Heap has taken on the London-based role.

The group of women allegedly robbed two Catbird stores and one Gorjana location on the afternoon of March 9.

Movado CEO Efraim Grinberg noted continued strength in the fashion watch and accessible luxury segments in the U.S.
























