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MajorsMar 23, 2015
Alex and Ani names new president
Harlan Kent is the former CEO of Yankee Candle and also held positions at C. Wonder and the Campbell Soup Company.
Cranston, R.I.--Harlan Kent has been hired as the new president of jewelry company Alex and Ani.
Kent has more than 30 years of experience working in consumer-focused public and private businesses.
He is the former CEO of Yankee Candle, a position he left last year to become CEO of C. Wonder, an apparel retailer founded by billionaire Chris Burch, the ex-husband and former business partner of fashion designer Tory Burch. C. Wonder announced it would be closing all its stores earlier this year.
Kent also held positions at Totes Isotoner, Olin Corporation and the Campbell Soup Company.
He began his career as a consultant with Bain & Company in Boston, and has served on the boards of AT Cross, Rue 21 and the Connecticut Children’s Medical Hospital. He currently serves on the boards of PF Changs and The Savory Spice Shop.
Alex and Ani founder Carolyn Rafaelian remains CEO of the brand, a position she assumed after former CEO Giovanni Feroce resigned last March. Jayne Conway is both the company’s chief financial and chief operating officer.
Rafaelian said the company is “delighted” to bring Harlan’s talent and experience to Alex and Ani.
“His passion for creating relevancy in quality-infused products, stewarding authentic brand building and developing high-performance teams fits perfectly within the Alex and Ani culture and the strategic direction we envision for the company,” she said.
Alex and Ani, founded in Cranston, R.I. in 2003, was named one of Inc. Magazine’s fastest-growing brands in 2013, and last year was listed as a “brand to watch” by Brand Innovators.
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