garrard
JOANNE MILNER THE TALENT BEHIND LONDON FINE JEWELLERY HOUSE GARRARD
Joanne Milner joined Garrard as Chief Executive in February 2016, launching a period of regeneration and renewal for the much-loved British jeweller. Drawing inspiration from the House’s long and distinguished heritage, Joanne is focused on building a brand that is as relevant to women today as it is proud of its rich legacy. Her luxury expertise is informed by four years as Chief Executive of the etiquette specialist, Debrett’s, where she made the esteemed British business great again and its advice newly desirable in this digital age. Fifteen years in private equity complements this experience, enabling Joanne to balance focusing on global growth with strengthening Garrard’s reputation as one of Britain’s greatest and most trusted jewellers. Her accomplishments since joining the House include the opening of its first boutiques in China, Beijing and Shanghai, raising Garrard’s profile in the Middle East and expanding the digital reach of the business, both organically and through digital luxury platforms, driving omnichannel sales. Joanne was also responsible for reinstating the apprenticeship scheme at Garrard and was instrumental in earning the House the Butterfly Mark from Positive Luxury, which is awarded to luxury brands that are verified as having a positive impact on people and the planet. In recognition of her contribution and commitment to the jewellery industry, in 2019 Joanne was invited to become a Freeman of The Goldsmiths’ Company. “At Garrard we are proud of our remarkable history and have a very compelling story to tell. My goal is to ensure we remain the go-to British jeweller for the next 300 years,” says Joanne. “We are also renowned for delivering the very best service at our flagship store in London. By making this available on a global scale, many more clients are now able to discover what makes Garrard so unique.” Garrard expands further into the Middle East with Kuwait opening at the Ali Bin Ali Luxury multibrand store. This expansion within Kuwait will also showcase a curated selection of Garrard jewels, many of which will be available in the GCC for the first time. 38
SEPTEMBER 2021
