Alex and Ani names Kent new president

Daniel Kittredge
Posted 5/12/15

Cranston-based Alex and Ani has named Harlan M. Kent, former CEO of Yankee Candle, as its new president.

“We are delighted to bring someone with Harlan’s talent and experience to the …

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Alex and Ani names Kent new president

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Cranston-based Alex and Ani has named Harlan M. Kent, former CEO of Yankee Candle, as its new president.

“We are delighted to bring someone with Harlan’s talent and experience to the Company,” Carolyn Rafaelian, Alex and Ani’s founder and CEO, said through a statement last week. “His passion for creating relevancy in quality infused products, stewarding authentic brand building and developing high performance teams fits perfectly within the Alex and Ani culture and the strategic direction we envision for the Company.”

According to Alex and Ani, Kent brings “nearly 30 years of experience working in consumer focused public and private businesses, with a proven track record of building brands and driving profitable growth across multiple channels of distribution.”

Kent spent 13 years at Yankee Candle and left in 2014 to become CEO of C Wonder, an apparel retailer owned by Burch Creative Capital. He previously worked for Totes Isotoner, Olin Corporation and the Campbell Soup Company. He began his career as a consultant with Boston-based Bain & Company.

Kent has served on the boards of AT Cross, Rue 21 and the Connecticut Children’s Medical Hospital. He current sits on the boards of P.F. Chang’s and The Savory Spice Shop.

A graduate of Dartmouth College, Kent lives in West Hartford, Conn., with his wife and three children.

Alex and Ani earlier this year unveiled plans for a national expansion and the restructuring of local facilities, including the opening of a new distribution center in East Greenwich, the doubling of corporate headquarters office space in Cranston and the move of its retail location in Chapel View “to a more prominent position” within the development.

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