Terry Burman to Retire, Signet Appoints Mike Barnes CEO

H.Samuel is the largest chain of specialty retail jewelers in the UK and part of the Signet group

(IDEX Online News) - Signet Jewelers Limited announced that it has appointed Michael 'Mike' Barnes as CEO. Barnes will step into his new role on January 30, 2011. He will join Signet on December 1 as Chief Executive Officer Designate and will be based in Akron, Ohio. He succeeds Terry Burman who will retire on January 29, 2011.

Barnes has been with Fossil, Inc., a global design, marketing and distribution company that specializes in consumer fashion accessories including watches, jewelry, handbags, small leather goods, belts, sunglasses and clothing for over twenty-five years. Most recently he served as President, COO and a Director of Fossil. He started with Fossil in its early days and was one of its initial employees. He was part of the management team that took Fossil public in 1993.

His responsibilities ranged from overseeing Fossil’s state-of-the-art international sourcing and supply chain operations to leading business development and managing the relationships with many of Fossil’s current retail and licensing/brand partners. In addition, he has helped the company diversify into other businesses and categories outside of its wholesale branded and licensed watches.