Tiffany appoints former Bulgari exec Alessandro Bogliolo as CEO

Jewelry retailer Tiffany & Co named former Bulgari SpA executive Alessandro Bogliolo as chief executive, months after appointing another executive from the Italian luxury retailer to its board, as part of a deal with hedge fund Jana Partners.

"Today's announcement concludes the Board's thorough process to identify and recruit an accomplished leader to position the Company for sustainable growth in the years ahead," said interim CEO Michael J. Kowalski. "Alessandro has a well-deserved reputation for creativity and execution, having previously led a number of international brands to success and improved performance. I also believe that his vision and team-oriented approach make him an ideal fit with Tiffany's long-standing values. "

A veteran luxury industry executive who has spent 16 years at Bulgari, Bogliolo most recently served as the chief executive of apparel and accessories company Diesel SpA.

Bogliolo's resume also includes stints as chief operating officer of beauty products chain Sephora and as an executive at consulting firm Bain & Co.

His appointment comes at a time Tiffany is struggling to attract young shoppers who are either spending less on accessories or are turning to chic brands such as Pandora A/S, and Alex and Ani.

"It is my goal to continue to delight our customers with compelling product offerings, supported by best-in-class operations," said Bogliolo. "I am committed to strengthening the Company's position as one of the world's most important luxury brands and delivering value for all of our stakeholders."

In its most recent quarter, Tiffany reported a surprise drop in comparable sales, as weak demand at home as well as a strong dollar crimped spending by tourists.

Bogliolo, 52, is expected to take over as Tiffany's chief executive by Oct. 2, and also join the company's board. He is expected to receive an annual base salary of $1.4 million, according to a regulatory filing.

The appointment comes about five months after the company ousted former Chief Executive Frederic Cumenal after a spate of disappointing results.

After Cumenal's departure, hedge fund Jana Partners revealed a stake in Tiffany and struck a surprise deal to add three directors to its board, including Francesco Trapani, an ex-CEO of Bulgari.

Though Jana's precise plan for the company is not yet clear, its agreement with Tiffany included Trapani being part of the CEO search committee.