Berta de Pablos-Barbier is choosing bling, joining jewelry manufacturer and retailer Pandora as its new chief marketing officer (CMO).
She succeeds Mary Carmen Gasco-Buisson, who is returning to Unilever, where she worked prior to sitting in the top marketer seat at Pandora. Gasco-Buisson is rejoining to take on the role of executive (CEO) at Unilever Prestige, the CPG’s luxury beauty arm.
De Pablos-Barbier brings over three decades of executive experience with global luxury and consumer goods brands, most recently serving as president and CEO of LVMH’s champagne brands including Moët & Chandon, Dom Perignon, and Mercier.
Before that, she was chief growth officer at Mars Wrigley and CMO at Lacoste. De Pablos-Barbier also gained jewelry industry experience from a stint as vp of marketing and communications at Kering-owned jeweler Boucheron.
Pandora’s growth journey
Pandora began implementing its “Phoenix” growth strategy in 2021 to help it expand beyond the bracelets and charms it had long become associated with.
The initiative focuses on four pillars: investing in brand perception; incorporating consumer insights into its product design; personalizing customer experience; and investing in its core markets.
Business of Fashion reported that the increased use of lab-grown diamonds represented a key component of this plan. Its investments in product and brand are already paying off with the company posting over $4 billion in revenues in 2023, up 8% year-over-year.
The Copenhagen, Denmark-based business said it now sells its jewelry through 6,700 points of sale in more than 100 countries, including over 2,600 concept stores.
“Pandora stands out as an iconic global brand on an impressive growth journey with sustainability at the forefront,” de Pablos-Barbier said in a statement. “The brand is undergoing an incredible transformation, and I can’t wait to join the talented team and skilled craftsmen to help elevate Pandora even further.”
Gasco-Buisson joined Pandora in October 2022 as CMO and executive vp of global business units after serving as worldwide brand leader and profit-and-loss owner for Axe/Lynx at Unilever.