Peter Smith gives tips on leading meetings, developing marketing, and making trade show appointments in the age of short attention spans.
Alex & Ani President, CFO Leave Company
Cindy DiPietrantonio and Bob Woodruff were hired under contracts that expired and decided to move on, a company spokesperson said.
Cranston, R.I.--Two executives have left fashion jewelry company Alex & Ani.
President Cindy DiPietrantonio and Chief Financial Officer Bob Woodruff have departed the Cranston, Rhode Island-based manufacturer, company attorney Mark Geragos confirmed.
He told National Jeweler Wednesday the two were hired under one-year contracts. They were both there for a little more than that but made the decision to move on at the end of 2017.
Neither have yet been replaced, but Geragos said the company is focusing largely on filling the positions internally.
DiPietrantonio joined the company in July 2016. Woodruff was hired that September.
The resignation of the two executives is the latest in a number of departures for Alex & Ani.
DiPietrantonio was hired to replace Harlan Kent, the former CEO of Yankee Candle, who held the position of president of Alex and Ani for less than a year.
Woodruff was replacing Jayne Fitzpatrick-Conway, who joined the company in 2014 and served as CFO for about two years.
Geragos said that despite the “fluidity” of the top executives, the company is on track to break sales records.
Alex and Ani, which is a private company and thereby not required to publicly disclose its complete financials, has seen sales skyrocket in the past few years. According to Forbes, revenues increased from $5 million in 2010 to more than $500 million in 2016.
Geragos said the company is targeting $1 billion in 2018, and have a number of new initiatives planned for the year, including getting into precious metals “in a large way” (more information on that initiative will be released soon, he said) and new collections.
He added that this immense growth and goals for the coming year is likely why the company is looking inward to fill the open executive spots.
The Latest

The 11-piece “Medallions” capsule collection features five motifs: a crying eye, a heart on fire, a spiral, a flower, and a swallow.

From Gen Z’s view of luxury to “doom spending,” these are the six consumer trends to note this year.

With the trade and customer trust in mind, GIA® developed NextGem™ – on-demand training designed specifically for retail.

The partners have announced the second cycle of the program, which has expanded to include a $25,000 student scholarship.


The owners of Staats Jewelers are heading into retirement.

Jeffrey Gennette, who retired in 2024 after 41 years with Macy’s, is the newest member of the jewelry retailer’s board of directors.

Gain access to the most exclusive and coveted antique pieces from trusted dealers during Las Vegas Jewelry Week.

May babies are lucky to have emeralds, a gemstone admired for centuries, as their birthstone, writes Amanda Gizzi.

The new module allows retailers to plan, promote, and measure the success of events from a single dashboard.

NDC said in an open letter that Pandora’s statements about the carbon footprint of lab grown versus natural diamonds are inaccurate.

The diamantaire and industry leader succeeds Feriel Zerouki and said he will focus on being a “champion” for natural diamonds.

She wore our Piece of the Week, Glenn Spiro’s “Old Moghul Golconda” earrings, featuring fancy brown-yellow diamonds totaling 51.90 carats.

Two pieces were named “Best in Show,” one from the retail category and one from the supplier category.

The jewelry retailer noted resilience among its higher-end customers while demand softened for its lower-priced offerings.

Led by the 6.59-carat sapphire, the sale garnered $9.7 million, a record total for a Heritage jewelry auction.

José Gaztelu has been promoted to the role, which has been vacant since last year.

It has also opened the application period for the Seymour & Evelyn Holtzman Bench Scholarship through June 30.

The owner of the Ekati mine, which opened in 1998, has filed for insolvency protection amid the significant decline in diamond prices.

The company announced the change alongside its Q1 results, which showed that the jewelry brand’s year is off to a shaky start.

Of the many examples used in the filming of “Le Mans,” this one is believed to have spent the most time on Steve McQueen’s wrist.

Megan Piccione dressed Lauren Wasser in layers of diamond jewelry, making her stand out in a crowd that included celebrities like Beyoncé.

Following decades of association leadership, the “semi-retired” colored gemstone expert is turning his focus to gemstone education.

The museum’s new exhibition will feature one of Jesse Owen’s Olympic medals, Yogi Berra’s crown, Super Bowl rings, and more.

The new program provides access to media exposure and editorial opportunities for exhibitors and retailers.

The “Eclipse” jewelry collection captures the fleeting moment where light and shadow align though onyx, diamonds, and freshwater pearls.

Buying discipline at trade shows starts with clarity about your inventory levels, Smith writes.
























