J.K. Symancyk

Chief Executive Officer Signet Jewelers

Last Reviewed: September 29, 2026

Executive Summary

J.K. Symancyk is Chief Executive Officer and a director of Signet Jewelers, the NYSE-listed diamond jewelry retailer whose brands include Kay, Zales and Jared. He took over from Gina Drosos in November 2024 after more than six years running PetSmart, and before that he led Academy Sports + Outdoors and held senior roles at Meijer. Signet reports sales of about $6.8 billion for fiscal 2026. In his first year he launched Grow Brand Love, a strategy to consolidate the brand portfolio and improve the operating model, with the three largest brands at its centre.

Career Highlights

• Appointed Chief Executive Officer and a director of Signet Jewelers effective 4 November 2024.
• Launched Grow Brand Love, which the 2026 proxy credits with a return to sales growth and better profitability in fiscal 2026.
• President, Chief Executive Officer and a director of PetSmart from June 2018 to September 2024.
• President and Chief Executive Officer of Academy Sports + Outdoors, where he also sat on the board.
• At Meijer, held roles including Group Vice President, EVP Chief Marketing Officer, Chief Operating Officer and President.
• Director of Bath & Body Works since 2021 and of the Retail Industry Leaders Association; formerly a director of Chewy (2018 to 2021) and GameStop (2020 to 2021).

Professional Journey

Symancyk has spent more than 30 years in retail, according to Signet’s filings. He built much of his career at Meijer, the Midwest supercenter chain, where he held a series of senior roles: Group Vice President, EVP and Chief Marketing Officer, Chief Operating Officer, and President.

He then became President and Chief Executive Officer of Academy Sports + Outdoors, the sporting goods retailer, and sat on its board. In June 2018 he moved to PetSmart as President, Chief Executive Officer and a director. He stayed until September 2024. During those years he also served on the board of Chewy, the publicly traded online pet retailer, from June 2018 to July 2021, and on the board of GameStop from March 2020 to June 2021. He has been a director of Bath & Body Works since 2021.

Signet announced on 1 October 2024 that Gina Drosos would retire after twelve years at the company and that Symancyk would succeed her as CEO and join the board on 4 November 2024. Signet is incorporated in Bermuda and runs its US business from Akron, Ohio. Its portfolio includes Kay, Zales, Jared and Peoples, as well as Diamonds Direct, Blue Nile and Rocksbox.

In his first year he introduced Grow Brand Love, a strategy to consolidate and strengthen the brand portfolio and focus on its three largest brands, Kay, Zales and Jared. The company’s 2026 proxy reports fiscal 2026 sales of $6.8 billion, with same store sales up 1.3%. In September 2026 Signet reported same store sales growth of 2.2% for the second quarter of fiscal 2027 and raised its full-year guidance. Symancyk said the company was “accelerating our key brand initiatives, including merchandise refreshes, enhancements to both the online and in-store customer experience, and a more modern and emotionally engaging marketing approach.”

He also serves on the board of the Retail Industry Leaders Association, the US trade body for large retailers.

Education

University of Arkansas, Fayetteville

Bachelor’s degree