Julie Rodway Yoakum (pictured), the former president of Helzberg Diamonds, has moved to Signet, the latter company announced yesterday.
In her new role, Yoakum will serve as president of Kay Jewelers, Signet’s largest chain, as well as of Canadian brand Peoples Jewellers.
Yoakum had been president and chief brand merchant officer of Helzberg since 2022; she’d joined that company in 2017 as chief merchandising officer. Before that, she spent five years as Blue Nile’s chief merchandising officer. Helzberg didn’t respond to a request for comment by press time.
In conjunction with Yoakum’s arrival, Stacee Johnson-Williams, who had been serving as interim president of Kay and Peoples since Bill Brace left in March, was named Signet’s chief merchandise operations and sourcing officer. She will oversee cross-brand sourcing for the company’s core categories. CEO J.K. Symancyk has centralized buying of basic items for Signet brands as part of his “Grow Brand Love” strategy.
Stacee Johnson-Williams
Signet also announced that Lisa Laich was appointed its new chief marketing officer. Laich most recently led digital and brand marketing for shoe brands Crocs and HeyDude.
In a quote provided to JCK, Laich said she will use “technology and the team’s creativity in new ways to realize the full potential of Signet’s beloved brands across bridal and fashion categories.”
Lisa Laich
(Top photo by Lauren Pusateri; photos courtesy of Signet)
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