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The renowned luxury goods executive brings decades of global leadership experience to the artisan jewelry brand.
John Hardy, an artisan hand-crafted jewelry brand born in Bali in 1975, has named Jan-Patrick Schmitz as its new Chief Executive Officer. A renowned luxury brand executive and thought leader in the consumer goods sector, Schmitz brings a wealth of retail and consumer experience to the luxury jewelry company.
Most recently, Schmitz served as CEO of Muirbury & Co., an independent firm he founded that specializes in building product-centric, premium brands across distinct consumer sectors. Previously, he served as Global CEO and Chairman of the Management Board of the WÜSTHOF Group, a revered German company manufacturing high-end kitchen knives.
Earlier in his career, Schmitz spent almost 20 years at Richemont, one of the world’s leading luxury conglomerates. The Swiss-based holding company specializes in the design, manufacturing, and distribution of high-end brands, with a prestigious portfolio including Montblanc, Cartier, and Dunhill.
During his time at Richemont, Schmitz held various senior leadership roles at Montblanc, including President and CEO of Montblanc North America, Head of Supply Chain Management, and President and CEO of Montblanc Japan.
In his new role as CEO of John Hardy, Schmitz will work closely with Reed Krakoff, a distinguished fashion designer and creative director who was appointed Creative Chairman of John Hardy in September 2022. Krakoff is known for his creative leadership roles at several high-profile brands including Coach and Tiffany & Co.
“John Hardy prides itself on its authenticity and community values, and I look forward to contributing to the company’s success while upholding the brand’s important commitment to sustainable luxury business practices and artisanship,” said Schmitz. “I’m excited to work closely with Reed and the rest of the talented team as we build on John Hardy’s artisan heritage to accelerate growth.”
To ensure a smooth leadership transition for the company, President and Interim CEO Audrey Finci will continue as an advisor and remain a member of John Hardy’s Board of Directors. In her outgoing period, Finci will work closely with Schmitz (whose colleagues refer to as Patrick).
“Patrick brings valuable knowledge of the luxury market, a deep understanding of today’s consumer, and a history of building and growing premier luxury goods businesses,” she said. “He also embodies the level of determination, drive, and passion that makes John Hardy so unique, and we’re thrilled to welcome him to the family.”
