Makdesi will oversee the Phoenix salon, which opened in October 2015

Black, Starr & Frost, the Newport, Calif.-based jeweler, has appointed Saad Makdesi (pictured) vice president/managing director of its Phoenix salon.

Alfredo Molina, the chairman of Black, Starr & Frost, acquired the brand in 2006. The Phoenix location, which is adjacent to another business Molina owns, Molina Fine Jewelers, opened in 2015.

“We are thrilled to have Saad join our growing team of fine jewelry professionals,” Molina said. “He brings a deep understanding of the retail landscape in the area, and his extensive luxury goods experience in the Valley will be invaluable as we work to introduce our brand to the Phoenix region.”

Makdesi was most recently the designer jewelry and precious jewels salon manager at Neiman Marcus. He previously was the department manager of fine jewelry for Saks Fifth Avenue in Phoenix and managed the Bailey Banks & Biddle fine jewelry store in Scottsdale, Ariz. 

JCK