Signet Jewelers CEO Gina Drosos will retire on November 4 following 12 years at the company, with J.K. Symancyk to succeed her in the role.
Drosos will step down as a member of the Signet board, the US retailer announced Tuesday. Symancyk will also join the board. Drosos will continue as an adviser through the end of the company’s fiscal year to help the transition.
Symancyk is currently CEO of PetSmart, a privately owned chain of pet superstores. Prior to joining PetSmart in 2018, he was CEO of Academy Sports + Outdoors, which sells sporting goods. Before that, he held senior roles at Meijer, a supercenter chain.
The leadership change “is the result of a thoughtful, planned succession process by Gina and our board,” said Helen McCluskey, chair of Signet’s board of directors.
Drosos took over as Signet CEO in 2017 during a difficult time for the retailer due to disappointing sales and allegations of sexual harassment and discrimination. The past seven years have seen a strong rise in the company’s share price, a rebranding of several banners, and multiple key acquisitions, including James Allen in 2017 and Blue Nile in 2022.
“As CEO, Gina led Signet in its transformation journey with strategic clarity, disciplined decision-making and a purpose-driven mindset,” McCluskey added. “Under her leadership, in the last five years the company expanded its market share by nearly 50% and significantly grew its digital presence.”
Image: Gina Drosos. (Signet)
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