“It was quite a top-down culture of command and control. We had brilliance in the organization that we just needed to unleash.”
—GINA DROSOS, CEO, SIGNET JEWELERS
MOST PASSERSBY AT the mall probably don’t realize it, but America’s ubiquitous jewelry store chains are designed to serve different needs. Zales, for example, is more focused on fashion items and gifts for oneself—the kind of jewelry you might wear to the office, or to a low-key party. If you were looking for a gift to celebrate a big life event like an anniversary or an engagement, you’d be more likely to go to Kay. And if you were shopping with a substantially bigger budget, you might leave the mall and go to a higher-end Jared.
One person who understands those distinctions intimately is Gina Drosos. She’s the CEO of Signet Jewelers, the behemoth that owns all three chains (and several others). And for the record, the jewelry she’s wearing during a recent chat with is Zales all the way. “I really enjoy the idea of jewelry as a fashion
