Prestigious jeweller Hamilton & Inches has appointed Victoria Houghton as its new chief executive officer.
Houghton has been tasked with preserving the Edinburgh company's heritage while giving it a contemporary image after taking over from Stephen Paterson, who has stepped down after 40 years.
Her appointment is part of a strategy by Hamilton & Inches to double turnover to £20 million over the next five years.
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Houghton, who is already a director of the company, said: “I am delighted to be joining Hamilton & Inches as CEO at such an exciting time for the business.
“I look forward to continuing my work to reposition such an iconic Scottish heritage brand to build market share in the global retail landscape.”
Hamilton & Inches has held the Royal Warrant as silversmiths to Her Majesty the Queen for more than 120 years. It plans to give its showroom at George Street in Edinburgh a completely new look to create an 'experiential retail approach'.
It has partnerships with brands including Rolex, Patek Philippe and Bremont, and offers a bespoke jewellery design service in its Edinburgh workshop,
Houghton, a former buyer for Next, M&S and River Island with experience in the Far East and owner of a franchise with four stores for the fashion brand in Romania, has an Honours degree in Cultural and Historical Art, and an A grade certificate in gemology. She is currently working with Q5 Business Management Consultants on the strategic transformation of Burberry.
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Hamilton & Inches chairman Peter Lederer said: “Houghton is the perfect candidate to step into the new role of CEO for Hamilton & Inches.
“Houghton’s involvement over the past year has been exceptional and her understanding of global industry trends in retail and unique ability to get to the crux of the issues is impressive. She brings passion, dedication and a fresh approach to deliver the five-year growth strategy for Hamilton & Inches.”
