SourcingJan 11, 2024
Gem Legacy Is Expanding Its Advisory Council MajorsJan 17, 2024
Nan Lung Palmer, Donatella Zappieri Join Hill & Co.
They both will serve as principal consultants, with Palmer based in the United States and Zappieri in Italy.
Donatella Zappieri, left, and Nan Lung Palmer have joined management consulting firm Hill & Co.
New York—Hill & Co. is kicking off the new year with two new hires.
The management consulting firm announced Wednesday that it has welcomed Donatella Zappieri and Nan Lung Palmer to its team.
The two have international experience in product, design, merchandising and sales.
Zappieri will serve as a principal consultant in Italy, where she lives.
She was formerly the head of international design for jewelry and watches for Swarovski before transitioning to consulting.
“It’s very exciting to be joining Hill & Co. and being part of a big international group of talented professionals,” she said, adding that she can provide access to a network in the Italian market.
“I’m looking forward to being part of the Hill & Co. team and exchanging ideas and supporting each other to give the best advice and guidance to our clients.”
Related stories will be right here …
The management consulting firm announced Wednesday that it has welcomed Donatella Zappieri and Nan Lung Palmer to its team.
The two have international experience in product, design, merchandising and sales.
Zappieri will serve as a principal consultant in Italy, where she lives.
She was formerly the head of international design for jewelry and watches for Swarovski before transitioning to consulting.
“It’s very exciting to be joining Hill & Co. and being part of a big international group of talented professionals,” she said, adding that she can provide access to a network in the Italian market.
“I’m looking forward to being part of the Hill & Co. team and exchanging ideas and supporting each other to give the best advice and guidance to our clients.”
Palmer, who is based in the United States and had been working with the Hill & Co. team since 2022, also joins the company as a principal consultant and a merchandising expert.
She has extensive experience in merchandising, working with brands like Macy’s and David Yurman for more than 20 years.
“Transparency, honesty, and an entrepreneurial spirit underscore my approach. I specialize in delivering customized merchandising solutions tailored for manufacturers, retailers, and jewelry brands. Those are the values on which I’ve built my businesses, and that’s what I’m excited to bring to Hill & Co.’s clients,” said Palmer.
Hill & Co. founder and CEO Elle Hill said, “I am consistently humbled by the caliber of talent that we have had the luxury of collaborating with as we support Hill & Co. clients.
“The evolution and growth of our team is more than just hiring new talent, it’s about attracting them with our work ethic and outcomes. It’s about creating a catalyst for the success of our clients’ businesses alongside Hill & Co.’s, as well as our industry's evolution in 2024 and beyond.”
Hill & Co. is a management consultancy that specializes in business growth strategies for brands and manufacturers in the diamond, gemstone, and jewelry industry.
Editors' Picks
Sponsored by
More on Majors
The Latest
PodcastsMay 21, 2026
Episode 5: Sotheby’s Frank Everett Puts the Auction Market in PerspectiveEverett covers colored stones’ surging popularity, the mellow return of the “Mellon Blue,” and his “The Devil Wears Prada” doppelgänger.
IndependentsMay 21, 2026
Springer’s Jewelers’ New Flagship Will Serve Next-Gen Luxury ShoppersFourth-generation CEO Lilly Mullen wants to emphasize experience, connection, and personalized service.
Events & AwardsMay 21, 2026
JA Announces Nina Pugliese Memorial ScholarshipThe new award, created in partnership with Henne Jewelers, honors the late designer’s legacy through supporting jewelry education.
Brought to you by
All Eyes on Gold Prices. Alternatives to Look For. And What to BEWARE of in VegasAs gold prices rise, today’s retailers are looking for alternatives at prices that will appeal to wider audiences.
SourcingMay 21, 2026
Botswana, Angola Join WFDBThe addition of the diamond-producing countries as nation affiliated members broadens the federation’s global representation, WFDB said.
Weekly QuizMay 21, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
CrimeMay 20, 2026
NYPD Warns of Jewelry Swap Scams Targeting SeniorsThe NYPD is warning elderly New Yorkers to keep their jewelry hidden when walking outside to avoid being a target.
IndependentsMay 20, 2026
Adornment & Theory’s New Store Feels Like Home Designer Viviana Langhoff has realized her dream of owning a space for her Chicago jewelry store that looks and feels like her brand.
Brought to you by
How Modern Training Is Becoming a Competitive Advantage for Jewelry RetailersWith the trade and customer trust in mind, GIA® developed NextGem™ – on-demand training designed specifically for retail.
Events & AwardsMay 20, 2026
Here Is Couture’s 2026 Education Lineup The sessions will run from Friday, May 29, to Sunday, May 31, with one being a live taping of an episode of Couture’s podcast.
Lab-GrownMay 20, 2026
Savannah Friedkin Jewelry Names New CEOFormer Stephanie Gottlieb Fine Jewelry executive Morgan P. Richardson is joining the lab-grown diamond jewelry brand.
WatchesMay 19, 2026
Here’s the AP x Swatch Pocket Watch That Caused PandemoniumThe $400 pocket watch is a blend of Audemars Piguet’s iconic eight-sided Royal Oak and Swatch’s unserious Pop watches from the ‘80s.
CollectionsMay 19, 2026
Chris Ploof’s New Collection Makes an Ancient Metal ModernWith gold prices on the rise, the “Modern Electrum” collection uses an alternative, non-tarnishing metal alloy composed of gold and silver.
IndependentsMay 19, 2026
Ellen and Michael Fruchtman Retire, Sell Marketing Agency Fruchtman Marketing has new owners, Erin Moyer-Carballea and Manuel Carballea, and will relocate to Miami.
ColumnistsMay 19, 2026
Peter Smith: The (Mostly) Immutable Sales TruthsIn a column for the 2026 State of the Majors issue, Smith lists 10 time-tested principles about sales that still ring true.
ColumnistsMay 18, 2026
Edahn Golan: What a K-Shaped Economy Means for Fine JewelryIn 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.
CollectionsMay 18, 2026
Foundrae’s New Collection Taps Into JoyThe “Limitless Expansion of Joy and Hope” collection evokes summer through colored gemstones and motifs of butterflies and florals.
CollectionsMay 18, 2026
Hancocks London Acquires Historic ‘Inchiquin’ EmeraldThe jewel, circa 1890, is from the late Victorian era and was owned by descendants of the last high king of Ireland.
Events & AwardsMay 18, 2026
Here Are the 2026 JCK Industry Fund Grant Recipients This is what the nine recipients plan to do with the funds.
AuctionsMay 15, 2026
American Collector Ponies Up Almost $17K for John Wayne’s RingThe 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.
Events & AwardsMay 15, 2026
JA, MJSA To Sponsor Roundtable at TJSThe discussion, "Rebuilding the Jewelry Workforce," will take place on Saturday, May 16, in Troy, Michigan.
SourcingMay 15, 2026
State of Diamonds: The Way Forward for Natural DiamondsThe jewelry industry is reassessing its positioning as Gen Z reshapes the retail landscape and lab grown continues to gain market share.
AuctionsMay 14, 2026
White Diamonds Lead Sotheby’s Auction, Blue Diamond Does Not SellA 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.
Supplier BulletinMay 14, 2026
A Diamond Is Forever Continues Desert Diamonds – Bridal ReinvigoratedSponsored by A Diamond Is Forever
SourcingMay 14, 2026
State of Colored Stones: The Spirit of Young American Gemstone CuttersThe next generation of lapidarists are entrepreneurial, engaged online, and see the craft as a means for artistic expression.
AuctionsMay 14, 2026
‘Ocean Dream’ Makes Waves at Christie’s, Fetching $17MIt 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.
CrimeMay 14, 2026
Second Man Arrested in Florida Pawn Shop Shooting Members of the U.S. Marshals Task Force took a 22-year-old man into custody. He was charged with tampering with evidence.
CrimeMay 13, 2026
JSA’s 2025 Crime Report Shows ‘Concerning’ Rise in ViolenceWhile the overall number of crimes was down, there were more incidences in which robbers pulled out guns, mace, or rammed cars into stores.
