Kendra Scott appoints industry veteran Chris Blakeslee as CEO to drive global growth

Kendra Scott Design, Inc. announced that Chris Blakeslee has been appointed as the company’s new chief executive officer, effective January 12. Blakeslee, an innovative leader known for scaling high-growth lifestyle brands, joins the company as it seeks to accelerate its evolution into a multi-generational, global powerhouse. Founder Kendra Scott will maintain her presence within the organization, continuing in her roles as chief visionary officer, executive chairwoman, and majority shareholder.

The leadership transition comes at a pivotal moment for the Austin-based brand, which has recently expanded beyond its jewelry roots into eyewear, fragrance, home, and the "Yellow Rose" western-inspired apparel and footwear line. Kendra Scott praised Blakeslee’s alignment with the brand’s core values, stating that his "forward-looking vision" and "dynamic perspective" make him the ideal steward for the company’s next chapter. Blakeslee expressed equal enthusiasm, noting that he has rarely encountered a brand with such deep-seated consumer loyalty and a foundation so authentically rooted in "genuine brand love."

Blakeslee brings a formidable track record of operational and strategic success to the role, having previously held leadership positions at Gap-owned Athleta and Alo Yoga. During his tenure at Alo Yoga, Blakeslee worked alongside the founders to scale the business from under 50 million dollars to over 1 billion dollars in direct-to-consumer revenue in less than five years. His expertise in translating a founder’s unique voice into commercial success is expected to be a major asset as Kendra Scott continues its "bullish" retail strategy and category expansion.

Founded in 2002, Kendra Scott has grown from a small jewelry startup into an omnichannel retailer with over 165 experiential stores and more than 1,000 wholesale partners. Even as the brand scales under Blakeslee's leadership, it remains committed to its founding pillars of family, fashion, and philanthropy—a mission that has seen the company donate more than 70 million dollars to various causes since 2010.