Grupo Suárez appoints Melanie Soucek as managing director of Aristocrazy

A significant shift has occurred in the leadership of the Spanish jewellery brand Aristocrazy. Grupo Suárez has announced a major change at the helm of its young brand with the appointment of Melanie Soucek as the new managing director. This move marks the departure of Francisco Álvarez, who assumed the role in July of last year.

With this change, the family-owned company embarks on a new path, emphasizing female leadership in its two divisions. As reported by the Spanish economic outlet Modaes, Melanie Soucek, the brand’s retail director, has been promoted to managing director of Aristocrazy. Meanwhile, Paloma Fernández Monroy has been leading the Suárez brand since December.

Both executives operate under the guidance of Juan Suárez, CEO of the group since 2022 and a member of the third generation of the family business. The second generation members, Emiliano Suárez and Benito Suárez, hold the presidency of the company.

“With the promotion of Melanie Soucek, a significant asset to the firm for the past eight years, Grupo Suárez reaffirms its commitment to promoting internal and female talent,” stated the Spanish company on their LinkedIn profile. Soucek, who holds a degree in Business Administration from ICADE, began her career at Hoss Intropia before moving to Sephora and the jewellery brand Apodemia. Over the past few years, the new managing director has held various key positions within the Suárez group, including area manager, training manager, and retail director.

Simultaneously, Francisco Álvarez has departed from Aristocrazy after only a year in the role, as confirmed by FashionNetwork.com. Álvarez’s next destination remains unknown. He brings a wealth of experience from his previous roles, including managing director of Sephora in Spain and positions at Barbour, Esprit, and Marks & Spencer. One of his latest projects at the jewellery brand was the development of its first talent incubator.

Founded in Bilbao in 1943, Grupo Suárez does not publish its financial results. However, the company employs around 700 people and, until last year, was involved in an expansion plan for its brands: growing Suárez to 61 retail points and Aristocrazy to 130.