MajorsJul 10, 2025
LVMH Names New Chairman, CEO of the AmericasEvents & AwardsJul 15, 2025
Neiman Marcus Vet Joins Couture as Brand Director
Eric Ford will step into the role, bringing with him decades of experience.
Eric Ford, who worked for Neiman Marcus for more than 30 years, is now the brand director for Couture. The 2026 Couture show is scheduled for May 27-31 at Wynn Las Vegas.
New York—Eric Ford, Neiman Marcus’ longtime fine jewelry buyer, has joined the Couture team as brand director, a new role within the organization.
As brand director, Ford will oversee Couture’s day-to-day operations while also spearheading “strategic enhancements” that benefit the event and the community as a whole, the show said when announcing his appointment Monday.
He will report directly to Emerald Executive Vice President Gannon Brousseau, who will shift his focus to larger strategic initiatives for the show, while Couture Brand Manager Elana Cutler now will report directly to Ford.
Before joining the Couture team, Ford spent more than 30 years at Neiman Marcus, most recently working as the precious jewelry buyer for the retailer’s 36 stores.
At Neiman Marcus, Ford earned a reputation for identifying talent and working closely with each brand to ensure its success in the United States.
He said he is “thrilled” to be Couture’s brand director.
“Having the opportunity to work alongside a team of people with whom I already have great relationships is truly a unique honor,” Ford said.
“I’m looking forward to leveraging my decades of industry experience and the relationships that I’ve build over the years to work collaboratively to bring even more value to an industry and a community about which I’ve long been passionate.”
Related stories will be right here …
As brand director, Ford will oversee Couture’s day-to-day operations while also spearheading “strategic enhancements” that benefit the event and the community as a whole, the show said when announcing his appointment Monday.
He will report directly to Emerald Executive Vice President Gannon Brousseau, who will shift his focus to larger strategic initiatives for the show, while Couture Brand Manager Elana Cutler now will report directly to Ford.
Before joining the Couture team, Ford spent more than 30 years at Neiman Marcus, most recently working as the precious jewelry buyer for the retailer’s 36 stores.
At Neiman Marcus, Ford earned a reputation for identifying talent and working closely with each brand to ensure its success in the United States.
He said he is “thrilled” to be Couture’s brand director.
“Having the opportunity to work alongside a team of people with whom I already have great relationships is truly a unique honor,” Ford said.
“I’m looking forward to leveraging my decades of industry experience and the relationships that I’ve build over the years to work collaboratively to bring even more value to an industry and a community about which I’ve long been passionate.”
Brousseau said Ford’s fine jewelry knowledge and the good will he’s fostered throughout the industry will be an asset to Couture.
He also noted that Ford has had a long tenure on the show’s Retailer Advisory Council and has been leading “Belonging at Couture” since its formation in 2020.
“These critical roles have allowed him to become intimately familiar with the inner workings of Couture while also forging strong relationships with key members of the team,” Brousseau said. “We are all excited for him to officially get started.”
Couture also added another new team member recently.
Kimberly Straub joined the jewelry trade show as its new retailer liaison, taking over for Jan Mohr, who retired this summer after more than 25 years with Couture.
The show honored Mohr for her years of service with the new Hidden Gem Award, presented during the 2025 Couture Design Awards.
More on Events & Awards
The Latest
GradingMar 06, 2026
Tom Moses Leaving GIA After Nearly 50 YearsMoses, who started at GIA’s Santa Monica lab in 1976, will leave the Gemological Institute of America in May.
Lab-GrownMar 06, 2026
Charles & Colvard Files for Bankruptcy, Citing Price PressuresIncreased competition, falling lab-grown diamond and moissanite prices, and the rising cost of gold took a toll on the moissanite maker.
CollectionsMar 06, 2026
Zome’s ‘Solara’ Earrings Embody Celestial BeautyThe earrings, our Piece of the Week, feature pink tourmalines as planets orbiting around an aquamarine center set in 18-karat rose gold.
Brought to you by
Is This You? Every Jeweler Has This Problem; We Have the Solution.Every jeweler faces the same challenge: helping customers protect what they love. Here’s the solution designed for today’s jewelry business.
MajorsMar 06, 2026
Pomellato’s 2026 IWD Campaign Spotlights Economic Abuse“The Price of Freedom” campaign video for International Women’s Day confronts the quiet violence of financial control.
Weekly QuizMar 05, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
Policies & IssuesMar 05, 2026
Tariffs to Increase to 15% This Week, Treasury Secretary Says Also, a federal judge has ordered that companies that paid tariffs implemented under the IEEPA are entitled to refunds.
CollectionsMar 05, 2026
Common Era Honors ‘Difficult Women’ in CollectionThe ever-growing collection, which just expanded with the addition of Olga of Kyiv, features cameos of 12 women from history.
Brought to you by
DCA Enters a New Chapter in Jewelry EducationWith refreshed branding, a new website, updated courses, and a pathway for growth, DCA is dedicated to supporting retail staff development.
TrendsMar 05, 2026
Engagement Ring Trends 2026: What’s In, and WhyWe asked a jewelry historian, designer, bridal director, and wedding expert what’s trending in engagement rings. Here’s what they said.
TrendsMar 05, 2026
Caitríona Balfe Fronts Only Natural Diamonds CoverThe “Outlander” star modeled for the digital cover of the magazine’s spring issue, which features a story on her relationship with jewelry.
MajorsMar 05, 2026
Registration Opens for CIBJO Centenary CongressThis year’s annual congress, which will mark the confederation’s 100th anniversary, will take place this fall in Italy.
MajorsMar 04, 2026
Michael M Opens First StoreBeverly Hills was chosen as the location for the brand’s first store, designed as a “private residence for modern monarchs.”
Policies & IssuesMar 04, 2026
Luxury Brands Temporarily Shutter Middle East StoresKering, Apple, and other retailers have reportedly temporarily closed stores in the Middle East region in light of the recent conflicts.
EditorsMar 04, 2026
Q&A: Brilliant Earth’s CEO on the New Beverly Hills StoreBeth Gerstein discusses the vibe of the new store, what customers want when fine jewelry shopping today, and the details of “Date Night.”
TrendsMar 04, 2026
Spinelli Kilcollin Rides Free In Year of the Horse CampaignThe “Live Now. Polish Later.” campaign features equestrians wearing the brand’s jewels while galloping across the icy plains of Kazakhstan.
MajorsMar 04, 2026
LeachGarner Names New Brand DirectorThe precious metals provider has promoted Jennifer Ashworth to the role.
Events & AwardsMar 03, 2026
Johnny Nelson Wins David Yurman Gem Awards GrantNelson will be honored as the inaugural grant winner at the Gem Awards gala on March 13.
SourcingMar 03, 2026
7 Trends That Could Define the Diamond Industry’s FutureExperts from India weigh in the politics, policies, and market dynamics for diamantaires to monitor in 2026 and beyond.
MajorsMar 03, 2026
Swiss Refiner Completes Acquisition of Gannon & ScottThe American precious metals refiner’s day-to-day operations remain the same post-acquisition.
TrendsMar 03, 2026
Amanda’s Style File: AquatopiaThese aquamarine jewels channel the calming energy of the March birthstone.
Events & AwardsMar 03, 2026
AGTA Adds Another New Category for SpectrumThe “Innovative Design” category and award will debut in the Spectrum division of this year’s AGTA Spectrum & Cutting Edge Awards.
EditorsMar 02, 2026
Jewelry at the Actor Awards: Reimagining Hollywood GlamourDiamond jewelry was the star of the event formerly known as the SAG Awards.
SurveysMar 02, 2026
Consumer Confidence Edges Up in FebruaryConsumers were somewhat less worried about the future, though concerns about rising prices and politics remained.
Events & AwardsMar 02, 2026
JVC to Honor Rebecca Foerster at Annual LuncheonFoerster is this year’s Stanley Schechter Award recipient.
Events & AwardsMar 02, 2026
JFC Names 2026 ‘Facets’ Honorees Sponsorships and tickets to the annual fundraising event, set for May 31, are available now.
CrimeFeb 27, 2026
Man Charged in Murders of Father, Son Jewelers in ChicagoChicago police and members of the U.S. Marshals Service tracked down the 35-year-old suspect earlier this week in St. Louis.
SourcingFeb 27, 2026
South African Diamond Mine Closes Amid Search for Missing WorkersOwners of the Ekapa Mine reportedly filed for liquidation about a week after a mudslide trapped five workers who have yet to be found.
