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Murphy will retire at the end of the year and Alexander, currently the company’s president, will take over at the start of 2027.
Jewelers Mutual President Mike Alexander, left, will succeed retiring CEO Scott Murphy at the start of next year.
Neenah, Wisc.—Jewelers Mutual announced Tuesday that CEO Scott Murphy will retire at the end of the year after 12 years as CEO.
Mike Alexander, the company’s president, will succeed Murphy as president and CEO, effective Jan. 1, 2027.
Murphy will continue to serve on Jewelers Mutual’s board of directors.
He joined Jewelers Mutual in 2015.
Jewelers Mutual said Murphy’s leadership “fundamentally reshaped” the company and its place in the industry through fostering a culture of innovation, leading with purpose, and keeping customers at the center.
“Leading Jewelers Mutual has been the greatest honor of my career,” said Murphy.
“The jewelry industry is filled with remarkable people who pour their passion, creativity, and craftsmanship into everything they do, and it has been a privilege to serve them. I am proud of what our team has built and even more excited about where Mike will take this company next.”
Alexander also came to Jewelers Mutual in 2015.
He has been “instrumental” in advancing the company’s digital transformation, leading business growth initiatives, championing product innovation, and overseeing its market and portfolio expansion, said Jewelers Mutual.
He was promoted to president in 2025.
In the role, he worked closely with Murphy to translate the company’s long-term strategy into day-to-day execution, partnering with teams across the organization to bring innovations like the JM Care Plan to market and guide the integration of Jewellers Loop after its acquisition.
As CEO, he will focus on accelerating the company’s expansion into new markets, deepening its digital and technology capabilities, and broadening its portfolio of solutions for jewelers and consumers.
Alexander also serves on the boards of Diamonds Do Good and the YMCA of the Fox Cities in Wisconsin.
“I’m incredibly excited for what’s ahead,” said Alexander.
“Scott has built an extraordinary foundation—a company with clear purpose, a strong culture, and a bold vision for the future. I’m energized to build on that momentum, and this team has everything it needs to keep pushing our industry forward. I couldn’t be more ready to lead the way.”
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Mike Alexander, the company’s president, will succeed Murphy as president and CEO, effective Jan. 1, 2027.
Murphy will continue to serve on Jewelers Mutual’s board of directors.
He joined Jewelers Mutual in 2015.
Jewelers Mutual said Murphy’s leadership “fundamentally reshaped” the company and its place in the industry through fostering a culture of innovation, leading with purpose, and keeping customers at the center.
“Leading Jewelers Mutual has been the greatest honor of my career,” said Murphy.
“The jewelry industry is filled with remarkable people who pour their passion, creativity, and craftsmanship into everything they do, and it has been a privilege to serve them. I am proud of what our team has built and even more excited about where Mike will take this company next.”
Alexander also came to Jewelers Mutual in 2015.
He has been “instrumental” in advancing the company’s digital transformation, leading business growth initiatives, championing product innovation, and overseeing its market and portfolio expansion, said Jewelers Mutual.
He was promoted to president in 2025.
In the role, he worked closely with Murphy to translate the company’s long-term strategy into day-to-day execution, partnering with teams across the organization to bring innovations like the JM Care Plan to market and guide the integration of Jewellers Loop after its acquisition.
As CEO, he will focus on accelerating the company’s expansion into new markets, deepening its digital and technology capabilities, and broadening its portfolio of solutions for jewelers and consumers.
Alexander also serves on the boards of Diamonds Do Good and the YMCA of the Fox Cities in Wisconsin.
“I’m incredibly excited for what’s ahead,” said Alexander.
“Scott has built an extraordinary foundation—a company with clear purpose, a strong culture, and a bold vision for the future. I’m energized to build on that momentum, and this team has everything it needs to keep pushing our industry forward. I couldn’t be more ready to lead the way.”
During Murphy’s tenure as CEO, he helped grow Jewelers Mutual from a specialty insurer to a technology-forward industry leader with an expanding international footprint, a diversified suite of solutions, and a culture recognized for innovation and excellence, the company said.
“Scott had a clear-eyed vision for what Jewelers Mutual could become, not just a better insurer, but a genuine leader to the jewelry industry,” said Robert Reeg, chair of the board for Jewelers Mutual.
“He built something that will serve this industry for the next century. We are deeply grateful for his leadership and proud of everything the team has accomplished under his guidance. We are equally confident in Mike’s ability to lead Jewelers Mutual into its next chapter. His vision and steady hand give the board great optimism for what’s ahead.”
Murphy championed innovation during his time with the company.
“Innovation is not confined to a single department; it is a mindset that permeates every aspect of an organization,” he said.
“When curiosity, collaboration, and customer-centric thinking are embedded into everything we do—and when 10x thinking is expected and encouraged—innovation is likely to result.”
His philosophy produced tangible results, Jewelers Mutual said, including investments in modern technology, machine learning, predictive analytics, and API integration.
It also inspired the development of digital tools that helped jewelers modernize their operations and gave rise to a company culture in which employees at every level were expected to ask, “what if,” and to act with urgency on the answer, the company said.
As the transition takes place, Jewelers Mutual said its mission, vision, and strategic priorities remain unchanged.
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