Tyringham Holdings Inc., owners of Shreve, Crump & Low with locations in Boston and Chestnut Hill, Mass., and Schwarzschild Jewelers in Richmond, Virg., named Stephen C. Elkin as interim CEO of the company. Merritt Mayher, president and CEO since 2003, is leaving the company to pursue other opportunities. The announcement was made Friday.

Elkin has served as a director of Boston-based Tyringham Holdings Inc. for the past several years, as well as acting as a consultant to the companies. He has more than thirty years of in-depth management experience in merchandising, marketing, image management, as well as extensive financial and operations expertise. He was the chairman and CEO of Bergdorf Goodman. He began his career in the retail industry in 1970 with the Abraham and Straus division of Federated Department Stores after spending six years in the banking industry.

Founded in 1796 by silversmith John McFarlane, Shreve, Crump & Low is considered to be the oldest jewelry store in North America. The flagship store is located at Boston’s Back Bay opposite the historic Public Garden with a second location in The Mall at Chestnut Hill. The flagship store will move to its new location at the corner of Berkeley and Boylston streets later this year.

Schwarzschild Jewelers was founded in 1897, by William Henry (W.H.) Schwarzschild, when he was awarded a franchise by a maker of railroad watches, the finest American timepieces of the day. One of Richmond’s oldest retailers, Schwarzschild has stores at Short Pump Town Center, Alverser Plaza and Cary Court.

JCK