Michael J. Kowalski

Chairman & CEO
Tiffany & Co.

Born: 1952

Michael J. Kowalski is the chairman and chief executive officer of Tiffany & Co., the internationally renowned jeweler. Mr. Kowalski was appointed president of Tiffany & Co. in January 1996, assumed the role of chief executive officer in February 1999 and was appointed chairman in January 2003.

He also served as chief operating officer and executive vice president, a position he assumed in 1992. In this role, he was responsible for the overall management and direction of the merchandising, design, marketing and public relations divisions.

In addition, he became president of The Tiffany & Co. Foundation with its establishment in 2000 and held the position until 2006, when he became a board member.

Mr. Kowalski joined Tiffany in 1983 as director of planning and served as vice president of merchandising administration before being appointed group vice president of merchandising in 1985. He came to Tiffany & Co. from Avon Products Inc., where he held several financial management positions.

Mr. Kowalski serves on the board of directors of The Bank of New York Mellon. He also serves on the board of Jewelers of America and the board of overseers of the University Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology at the University of Pennsylvania.

Mr. Kowalski earned a bachelor's degree in economics from the University of Pennsylvania and a master's degree in business administration from Harvard University.