E.A. Hughes & Co. Places Chief Digital Officer at Citizen Watch America

April 14, 2017 – Executive search firm E.A. Hughes & Co. has placed former Ralph Lauren executive Barbara Garces as chief digital officer (CDO) of Citizen Watch America. Recruiting partner Ann MacCarthy led the assignment.

In this new role, Ms. Garces will lead the development and implementation of the company’s digital strategy across all Citizen Watch brands, including Citizen, Bulova, Caravelle, Frederique Constant, and Alpina. Her experience in the wholesale and retail channels of distribution and consultative approach to influencing across multiple brands made her the ideal fit for this position, said two recruiters unaffiliated with the search.

The appointment supports the coming launch of Citizen’s ERP and Product Information System that will bring the Citizen brand portfolio to the forefront of business technology and help the company streamline its back office operations and efficiency. Founded in 1930, Citizen is today recognized as a worldwide leader in advanced technology — from designing the world’s slimmest LCD watch to offering the first voice recognition watch to creating the first professional dive watch with an electronic depth sensor — the company has reaffirmed its position as a worldwide leader in timekeeping technology.

Ms. Garces previously served as vice president of wholesale digital and e-commerce at Ralph Lauren. She joined the company in 2009 as senior director of wholesale online marketing & strategy. Ms. Garces also held e-commerce and online marketing roles at Godiva and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.