Kendra Scott steps down as CEO of namesake brand, names Tom Nolan as successor

By

Robin Driver

Published
Feb 2, 2021

American designer Kendra Scott has announced that she is stepping down as CEO of her eponymous jewelry brand, appointing Tom Nolan as her successor, effective immediately.
 

Scott, who founded her brand in 2002 and has been its sole CEO, will continue in her role as executive chairwoman and majority owner leading design, customer experience and philanthropy.
 
As her replacement as CEO, Nolan brings more than 20 years of experience in brand building, retail innovation and planning to his new position. The executive first joined the Kendra Scott board in 2014, before becoming chief revenue and marketing officer at the company in 2016.

In 2019, he was promoted to president, a role in which he drove a number of important initiatives, including the acceleration of the company’s omnichannel development and the expansion of its national retail footprint and wholesale presence.
 
He also collaborated with Scott on the opening of the brand’s flagship in South Congress, Austin, and the launch of the Kendra Scott Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership Institute at University of Texas at Austin. On top of this, he helped secure a minority investment from Berkshire Partners, which led the company to be valued at $1 billion.
 
Prior to joining the Kendra Scott brand, Nolan held a range of senior roles at companies including Ralph Lauren and Condé Nast. He also founded and served as CEO of Prospect Brands
 
“Over the last seven years, Tom has been an incredible thought partner to me and a wonderful steward of the brand," said Scott in a release. “Tom is an experienced executive with a relentless focus on the customer, operational rigor, and strong expertise in digital transformation. With Tom at my side as CEO, I can continue to focus on what I have always seen as the core of the brand – great design, strong philanthropic impact and a continued commitment to our customer.”
 
The Kendra Scott brand currently operates more than 110 stores across the U.S., and is also sold by department stores including Neiman Marcus, Nordstom and Bloomingdale’s, as well as some 600 specialty retailers around the world. The company employs over 2,000 people.