Birks appoints VP, chief omni-channel sales and marketing officer

By

Jennifer Braun

Published
Nov 12, 2019

Canadian luxury jewelry retailer Birks Group Inc. has appointed Lanita Layton vice president and chief omni-channel sales and marketing officer.

 
Layton joins Birks from Hugo Boss, Canada where she was responsible for Hugo Boss' Canadian retail and wholesale operations, marketing, visual merchandising, store and shop location and leasing, as well as the distribution centre and logistics. 
 
Pior to Hugo Boss, she was at Holt Renfrew & Co from 2001 to 2011 in various positions, including vice president, strategic initiatives and vice president & general manager, menswear, gift and gourmet.

"I am very pleased to welcome Lanita Layton to Birks Group,” said Jean-Christophe Bédos, Birks president and CEO.
 
“Her experience and knowledge in the retail industry as well as her expertise in luxury brand management will be valuable assets for Birks Group as we continue the development of the Birks product brand and the transformation of our stores network in Canada."
 
Most recently, the Montreal-based company has been focused on modernizing its store network with its latest design concept, as part of its multi-million-dollar capex program implemented over a year ago. 
 
In fiscal 2019, Birks reported net sales of $151 million, an increase of $4.4 million or 3 percent compared to the prior fiscal year, driven by an increase in comparable store sales of 1 percent.
 
The company founded in 1879, currently operates 28 stores under the Birks brand in most major metropolitan markets in Canada; one retail location in Calgary under the Brinkhaus brand and two retail locations in Vancouver, under the Graff and Patek Philippe brands.