Pandora accelerates leadership transition as Berta de Pablos-Barbier takes over early.

Pandora has announced it is accelerating its leadership transition, with Berta de Pablos-Barbier assuming the role of CEO on January 1st. The Spanish executive, currently the company's chief marketing officer, will take over from Alexander Lacik. This change was initially scheduled for completion in March during the annual general meeting, but Pandora has opted to move the date forward. The jewellery brand attributed the acceleration to a "smooth handover" by the outgoing CEO and the appointment of Jennie Farmer as the new chief marketing officer.

Peter Ruzicka, chairman of Pandora’s board of directors, commented on the expedited timeline: "The handover from Alexander to Berta has been exceptionally smooth. With the addition of Jennie Farmer as CMO, we are pleased to be able to carry out the leadership transition faster than anticipated."

For her part, Pablos-Barbier stated that it would be "an honour" to lead Pandora in its next phase. She emphasized the brand's unique position in the accessible jewellery market, noting, "My immediate priority will be to navigate the current market turbulence as we prepare to take advantage of our untapped opportunities as a comprehensive jewellery brand and drive long-term growth. We are building a bigger Pandora."

Alexander Lacik retires after nearly seven years as chief executive and president of the brand. Although he will step down as CEO at the start of the year, he will remain with Pandora as a special adviser to both the board of directors and the executive committee until the company's annual general meeting on March 11 next year. Ruzicka acknowledged Lacik's "exceptional leadership," highlighting significant growth during his tenure, including a 45% increase in revenue and a total shareholder return exceeding 200%. He concluded that Lacik leaves the company with a solid foundation and significant growth potential.

Beginning next year, Jennie Farmer will succeed Pablos-Barbier as chief marketing officer. Farmer, who joined Pandora in January 2025 as senior vice-president of brand experience and channels, brings over 25 years of experience from luxury and FMCG brands, including Procter & Gamble and LVMH. She expressed enthusiasm for building on the brand's strong direction and "driving bold, creative marketing that connects with consumers across all our segments and channels."

Headquartered in Copenhagen, Pandora operates more than 2,700 stores globally and has a presence in around 100 countries. Financially, the company reported a 6% increase in revenue in the third quarter of the 2025 financial year.