Graff USA has a new executive vice president. Katy Chen, a luxury industry veteran with more than a decade at Tiffany & Co. and roles at Cartier and Christian Dior Couture, will lead retail sales and operations across the jeweller’s 11 stores in the United States.
Graff USA announced the appointment this month. Katy Chen joined on 31 August and reports directly to Graff USA President and CEO Marc Hruschka.
The move places a client-focused executive in charge of store performance at a luxury jeweller. Below, we look at her career, what the role covers and what the report does not say.
Katy Chen at a Glance
- Role: Executive vice president, Graff USA
- Responsibility: Retail sales and operations across 11 US stores
- Started: 31 August
- Reports to: Marc Hruschka, president and CEO of Graff USA
- Most recent role: Senior vice president of client engagement, Christian Dior Couture (one year)
- Before that: Head of client engagement, North America, Cartier (two years)
- Earlier: Tiffany & Co. (12 years), rising to senior director for global client relations for high jewelry
- Education: Bachelor’s degree in psychology, Bryn Mawr College; MBA, Columbia Business School
Graff USA Names a Retail Leader for Its 11 US Stores
Graff USA’s new executive vice president will oversee retail sales and operations across all 11 of its US stores. Katy Chen started on 31 August, according to the report, and answers directly to the head of the business, Marc Hruschka, who is president and CEO. The announcement came in October, after she had started.
Inside Katy Chen’s Career: Tiffany, Cartier and Dior
According to her LinkedIn profile, Chen came to Graff USA after one year as senior vice president of client engagement at Christian Dior Couture. Before that, she spent two years as head of client engagement for North America at Cartier. She worked at Tiffany & Co. for 12 years and rose to become senior director for global client relations for high jewelry.
Added together, that is about 15 years across the three houses, by our count. Katy Chen’s route through luxury runs from jewellery to fashion and back to jewellery.
From High Jewelry Client Relations to Retail Operations
Her last three titles all centred on clients: client engagement at Dior, client engagement for North America at Cartier and global client relations for high jewelry at Tiffany. That is our observation, not a statement from Graff.
Her new job is different. It covers retail sales and operations across 11 stores. In practice, it joins two skills: knowing the high-end customer and running the stores that serve them.
Education: Psychology and an MBA
Chen holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Bryn Mawr College in Pennsylvania and an MBA from Columbia Business School.
What the Appointment Means for Graff USA
The report gives no reason for the hire, so any reading is ours. Still, three points stand out.
First, the role sits one step below the CEO, with a direct reporting line. Second, it covers both sales and operations, so Chen will be judged on results as well as service. Third, her background in client engagement suggests Graff USA values strong client relationships, which matter a great deal in high jewelry.
For Graff USA, Katy Chen’s appointment is a leadership move, not a product launch. Its effect will show in how the stores perform.
Katy Chen and Graff USA: Frequently Asked Questions
Who Is Katy Chen?
Katy Chen is a luxury industry executive who spent 12 years at Tiffany & Co. and also worked at Cartier and Christian Dior Couture. She is now executive vice president of Graff USA.
What Is Katy Chen’s Role at Graff USA?
She leads retail sales and operations across Graff USA’s 11 stores in the United States.
When Did Katy Chen Join Graff USA?
She joined on 31 August.
Who Does Katy Chen Report To?
She reports directly to Marc Hruschka, president and CEO of Graff USA.
Where Did Katy Chen Work Before Graff USA?
She spent one year as senior vice president of client engagement at Christian Dior Couture. Before that, she spent two years as head of client engagement for North America at Cartier, and 12 years at Tiffany & Co.
How Many Stores Does Graff USA Have?
Graff USA has 11 stores in the United States.
Keep Reading
- Tiffany & Co. gives HardWear a new hue
- Tilda Swinton’s Cartier ambassador story
- Pandora’s new Vietnam factory
- Luxury Business news
Katy Chen arrives at Graff USA with experience at three of the best-known names in luxury, and with a clear brief: sales and operations across 11 stores. For more luxury business news, follow MKV Digital Luxury Gazette.
