Miami – Jewellery industry veteran Caryl Capeci has joined LVMH’s Starboard Cruise Services as its new Senior Vice President, Fine Jewellery and Watches.
Capeci joined the cruise retail curator earlier this year as a strategic advisor.
Her appointment is part of Starboard’s strategy to strengthen its senior leadership team as an investment in the positive outlook for the cruise industry, which it says has “come back stronger than ever”.
The company currently has more than 750 product brand partners.
“With the strong recovery of the cruise industry, luxury retail at sea is perfectly positioned to capture a greater share of the fine jewellery and watch market, offering brands a highly unique and experiential retail approach,” the company said.
Capeci brings experience in both the jewellery and cruise industries, having led agency marketing teams for DeBeers Diamonds at JWT and Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises as executive vice president at Havas/Arnold.
She joins Starboard from Chow Tai Fook North America (CTFNA), the parent company of Hearts On Fire and Mémoire, where she was CEO until last year.
Prior to that, she held several senior positions at Hearts On Fire, including serving as president from 2016 until her appointment as CEO of CTFNA in 2019.
Benito Mendez has also been announced as Starboard’s new Vice President of Merchandising and Planning.
Mendez returns to the company having previously spent 16 years with Starboard in a variety of senior roles.
He rejoins the cruise retailer from global entertainment company Hard Rock International, where he led retail strategy, product development, e-commerce and licensing. He began his career in the executive management programme at Macy’s, where he held various merchandising positions.
As vice president of merchandising and planning, Mendez is charged with leading Starboard’s global merchandising strategy, working closely with its portfolio of product brand partners.
“Caryl and Benito’s solid experience in their respective fields are key additions to our leadership team to drive our continued growth. Caryl’s unique leadership background in the jewellery industry, combined with the high demand for luxury retail offerings and experiences on board, made her transition into the Starboard family very organic,” said Lisa Bauer, President and CEO of Starboard.
“We are thrilled to welcome Benito back. His extensive cruise retail experience, diverse skill set, leadership abilities and passion for excellence make him a perfect fit for our leadership team.”
