Clarity and Success appoints Mike Oldroyd as managing director

Jewellery industry software company Clarity and Success has appointed Mike Oldroyd as managing director, succeeding Karen Russell.

The change in leadership comes as current founder and managing director Russell is set for retirement later this summer. The transition marks the next phase of growth for the company, following two decades under Russell’s leadership.

Oldroyd brings more than 35 years of senior experience across jewellery and watch retail, as well as specialist software and technology. His background covers both customer-facing and operational roles, giving him a strong understanding of how independent and multi-store retailers work and the challenges they face. These combined experiences position him well for the role.

Russell founded the business in 2003, alongside her father, supporting its growth into a major jewellery software provider. During her time as managing director, she pushed the brand into partnership with jewellery brand Pandora, acquired Bransom Retail Systems in 2019 and led the development of the “Evolution” software platform.

Clarity and Success provides stock management and electronic point of sale (EPOS) software for jewellers, focusing on independent jewellers and multi-store retailers. The platform provides inventory, ordering and analytics systems as well as repairs and pawnbroking.

Russell said her decision to retire is for personal reasons, and she no longer has the capacity to continue in the role. In a statement on her departure, she said: “My position as Managing Director demands and, indeed, deserves far more attention than I now feel capable or able to offer, so, while naturally this has been no easy decision, fate presented me with an opportunity for a more than worthy successor that I simply could not overlook.”

She continued: “The values Dad and I initially built the business on, and the rest of the team continue to uphold, are deep sector knowledge, personal service, and genuine partnership with customers. Mike will assist the team now to grow these values further and ensure they remain the foundation of our business. I could not be more confident in the capable pair of hands that will take over the Clarity ship.”