Swarovski Names First Non-Family Member CEO

RAPAPORT... Swarovski has appointed former McKinsey & Co. executive Alexis Nasard as CEO, the company's first leader from outside the crystal maker's family to hold the post in its 127-year history.Nasard will start on July 4, taking over from interim CEO Michele Molon, who will assume the newly established role of chief commercial officer, Swarovski said last week. The move to onboard an external chief is part of the company's attempt to transition from a family-managed to a family-owned business, and follows the November appointment of five independent directors for the first time since Swarovski's inception. The news comes after ongoing upheaval within the company. In December, Nadja Swarovski, largely viewed as the face of the company, left after 26 years amid rumors of family infighting. Two months prior, Robert Buchbauer, the great-great grandson of founder Daniel Swarovski, exited after serving only a year and a half as CEO, and culling 600 positions within the company. Mathias Margreiter, another relative, also left. Meanwhile, Markus Langes-Swarovski stepped down from the board in 2020 as the company realigned its business and appointed an external creative director."With the appointment of [our] first external CEO, we are taking an important further step in establishing a sustainable governance model," said Luisa Delgado, chair of Swarovski's board of directors. "With Alexis Nasard as the new CEO, we are very pleased to have been able to select a highly experienced and transformational leadership personality who is capable of leading Swarovski in the affirmation of its iconic luxury heritage and through its business transformation."Image: Alexis Nasard. (Swarovski)