David Bouffard to Leave Signet and RJC

Signet Jewelers veteran David Bouffard will stand down from his position at the retailer and as chairman of the Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC) next year.

Bouffard’s last day at Signet will be April 30, 2024, he announced Thursday in a note to RJC members. He will resign from the RJC before that date.

Having been at the US jewelry giant since 1981, Bouffard is currently Signet fellow of industry affairs. Before that, he was the company’s vice president of corporate affairs, a position he held for 11 years, according to his LinkedIn profile.

“We are so grateful for all David has done to advance our company and the industry over the past four decades, including our industry affairs and sustainability efforts,” said Colleen Rooney, Signet’s chief communications and environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) officer. “We thank David for his decades of service to the company, his many contributions to strategic industry initiatives, and his valued leadership in Signet’s philanthropic efforts.”

Signet has already welcomed Matt Swibel as its vice president of sustainability and social impact, Rooney added. She did not specify how Swibel’s role overlapped with the position Bouffard is vacating.

The RJC, which Bouffard has led since 2018, will hold a special election for chair, with the nomination process beginning in January 2024, he added in the note to members. The new chair could be in charge as early as March 2024, “allowing some time for continuity” before Bouffard leaves Signet the following month, he said.

“We are looking for the new chair to steer our diverse team and the ever-growing RJC membership into the future with a clear vision for the changing modern world for our industry, from mine to retail, for fine jewelry and watches,” the executive wrote.

Image: David Bouffard. (Signet Jewelers)