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Pandora appoints new chief executive
Image: https://pandoragroup.com/

Pandora appoints new chief executive

On this episode of Talking Shop I’m joined by Alain Bejjani—former Group CEO of Middle East retail giant Majid Al Futtaim, and author of the definitive new book, NEXT: Leading Through the New Realities. Drawing on his childhood in war-torn Beirut, and his experience steering a $9.5bn dollar retail and lifestyle empire through a global pandemic, Alain brings an unmatched perspective on leadership under pressure. Today, we break down his crisis survival playbook for retailers operating in distress. We discuss why resilience must always outpace efficiency, the four assets a brand must protect at all costs, and how to turn macro-turmoil into a long-term direction that scales.

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Pandora has announced the appointment of Berta de Pablos-Barbier as its chief executive, effective 1 January 2026, completing a leadership transition earlier than originally planned.

Pablos-Barbier, currently chief marketing officer, would succeed Alexander Lacik as chief executive, with the change initially expected to conclude at the company’s annual general meeting in March. 

Lacik will retire after almost seven years as president and chief executive. He joined Pandora in 2019 and oversaw a period of strategic change aimed at repositioning the business as a full jewellery brand.

He will remain with the company as special adviser to the board and executive leadership team until the annual general meeting on 11 March 2026.

The transition has been brought forward following the appointment of Jennie Farmer as its new chief marketing officer.

Farmer will take up the role of chief marketing officer on 1 January 2026. She joined Pandora in January 2025 as senior vice-president, brand experience and channels, and has previously held senior roles at Procter and Gamble, De Beers, LVMH, Oka and The Office Group.

Berta de Pablos-Barbier said: “I am honoured to lead Pandora into its next chapter. Over the past years, we have established a strong brand with a unique position in the market for accessible jewellery. My immediate focus will be to navigate the current market turbulence while gearing up to leverage our untapped opportunities as a full jewellery brand and drive long-term growth. We are building a bigger Pandora.”  

Peter Ruzicka, chair of Pandora, added: “I want to thank Alexander for his outstanding leadership. Since he joined, Pandora’s revenue has grown by 45%, and total shareholder return has exceeded 200%. He leaves the company with a strong foundation and significant growth potential. We look forward to celebrating his achievements at the Annual General Meeting.”

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