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Kendra Scott Taps Activewear Exec as CEO
Chris Blakeslee has experience at Athleta and Alo Yoga. Kendra Scott will remain on board as executive chair and chief visionary officer.
Chris Blakeslee will become the new CEO of Kendra Scott Design Inc. on Jan. 12.
Austin, Texas—Kendra Scott Design Inc. has named a new CEO, five months after its eponymous founder returned to run the brand following the exit of three C-suite executives.
The Austin, Texas-based jewelry company announced Tuesday that it has hired Chris Blakeslee as its new CEO, effective Jan. 12.
The company’s founder, Kendra Scott, had been serving as interim CEO since August after the departures of CEO Tom Nolan, Chief Financial Officer Jason Friesen, and Chief People Officer Danielle Stewart amid what the company described as a new phase of expansion.
Scott will remain with the company, continuing in the roles of executive chairwoman, majority shareholder, and chief visionary officer.
Blakeslee’s LinkedIn profile shows that his most recent experience was in the activewear space.
He spent nearly six years as president of Alo Yoga and Bella + Canvas, which is owned by the same company as Alo and sells blank T-shirts for custom printing, and 2 1/2 years as president and CEO and strategic advisor to Gap-owned activewear brand Athleta.
While at Alo, Blakeslee worked with the brand’s co-founders to grow the athleticwear company from under $50 million in revenue to a $1 billion-plus business in less than five years, Kendra Scott Design said in the news release announcing his hire.
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The Austin, Texas-based jewelry company announced Tuesday that it has hired Chris Blakeslee as its new CEO, effective Jan. 12.
The company’s founder, Kendra Scott, had been serving as interim CEO since August after the departures of CEO Tom Nolan, Chief Financial Officer Jason Friesen, and Chief People Officer Danielle Stewart amid what the company described as a new phase of expansion.
Scott will remain with the company, continuing in the roles of executive chairwoman, majority shareholder, and chief visionary officer.
Blakeslee’s LinkedIn profile shows that his most recent experience was in the activewear space.
He spent nearly six years as president of Alo Yoga and Bella + Canvas, which is owned by the same company as Alo and sells blank T-shirts for custom printing, and 2 1/2 years as president and CEO and strategic advisor to Gap-owned activewear brand Athleta.
While at Alo, Blakeslee worked with the brand’s co-founders to grow the athleticwear company from under $50 million in revenue to a $1 billion-plus business in less than five years, Kendra Scott Design said in the news release announcing his hire.
The company described him as a “proven growth architect” who brings the strategic and operational expertise required to evolve Kendra Scott into a global iconic brand.
Scott said Blakeslee understands her brand’s “customer-first” mission.
“His forward-looking vision strengthens our holistic brand world, where product, environment, community, and culture work seamlessly together,” she said.
“Chris honors my vision while adding a dynamic perspective, making him the ideal steward for our next phase of growth.”
Scott started her eponymous company in 2002.
Today, Kendra Scott Designs has more than 1,000 specialty boutiques, and more than 165 namesake experiential stores, pop-up locations, and wholesale partners, including Nordstrom and Dillard’s.
It employs about 3,200 people.
The company sells fashion, demi-fine, and fine jewelry, as well as watches, eyewear, fragrance, and home accessories.
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