Nadja Swarovski attends Maison de Mode hosts 3rd Annual Sustainable Style Awards on Feb. 08, 2020, ... [+] in West Hollywood, Calif. (Photo by Michael Tran/Getty Images)

Nadja Swarovski said she will leave her internationally renowned family firm at the end of December after 26 years “to start a new chapter in her career.”

The Board of Swarovski International Holding AG and Nadja Swarovski jointly announced the resignation in December. Ms. Swarovski was a member of Swarovski’s executive board and spearheaded brand image and sustainability strategy of the 126-year-old family business as well as chairing the Swarovski Foundation that she established in 2013. She will remain involved with the Swarovski Foundation as Chair Emeritus. The company’s statement did not mention if there will be a replacement.

Swarovski is a producer of glass headquartered in Wattens, Austria. It was founded by Daniel Swarovski in 1895 and has been controlled by the family ever since, now in its fifth generation. The company is split into three major industry areas: the Swarovski Crystal Business, which primarily produces crystal glass, such as jewelry and accessories; Swarovski Optik, which produces optical instruments such as telescopes, telescopic sights for rifles, and binoculars; and Tyrolit, a manufacturer of grinding, sawing, drilling, and dressing tools, as well as a supplier of tools and machines.

The Swarovski Crystal Business is what the company is best known for and is one of the highest grossing business units within the family-owned company. Nadja Swarovski led much of this business when joining the company in 1995, as the first female member of Swarovski’s executive board. She initiated a program of collaboration between the Swarovski brand and leading figures in fashion and jewelry, design, architecture, stage and screen, positioning the company at the vanguard of creative and lifestyle as well as supporting emerging and established design talent through the Swarovski Collective initiative, the company said in a statement.

In 2007, she set up Atelier Swarovski, the company’s fashion, sustainably crafted jewelry, accessories and home décor line that showcases creativity, innovation and craftsmanship with crystal. She oversaw the line’s implementation of man-made diamonds and fair-trade metals within its jewelry, celebrating what the company calls “conscious luxury.” The line has had more than 250 collaborations with top international designers in fashion, jewelry and architecture, including Christopher Kane, Victor & Rolf, Jean Paul Gaultier and Karl Lagerfeld.

She also served as the face of the company attending high profile events throughout the world, particularly when it came to sustainability initiatives.

Her focus on sustainability was recognized in 2019 when she received the Fashion Institute of Technology Social Impact in Sustainability Award. In 2020, she received the Business Leader of the Year Award from Positive Luxury for her sustainability initiatives. She was also named to the Business of Fashion’s BoF 500 professional index of the people shaping the fashion industry.

However, the business fell into financial trouble due to the Covid coronavirus crisis. In April, it was reported that she was stripped of her responsibilities.

Robert Buchbauer, who took over the management of Swarovski as CEO in April 2020, in response to losses due to Covid, initiated cutbacks of approximately 1,800 jobs. This reportedly led to friction among the family members that controlled the majority of company shares. In October, Buchbauer and CFO Mathias Margreiter announced their resignations while remaining members of the board of directors.

The company also announced that for the first time in its history key senior management positions will come to be fulfilled by non-family members in 2022.

In a statement Nadja Swarovski expressed gratitude for the opportunity to work for her family’s firm and having the freedom to accomplish so much during her 26 years.

“I am deeply grateful for the experience of working in my family’s business and in particular very closely with my father, Helmut Swarovski, who taught me so much,” she said. “My time at the Swarovski company has been the most rewarding journey. What started with creativity and design has culminated in human empowerment and sustainability and using Swarovski’s platform to support the environment and the community has been the greatest privilege of my career.”

She added: “Collaborating with so many remarkable individuals globally in fashion, jewelry, architecture and beyond has been incredibly fulfilling and I’m thankful for these everlasting relationships.”

Officials at Swarovski praised her work with the company and noted that her legacy will continue.

“It is with deep gratitude that we acknowledge Nadja’s indelible imprint on the business. Her contribution over the years has been decisive in bringing Swarovski to the forefront of the fashion industry,” said Luisa D. Delgado, Swarovski International board chairwoman. “This will remain her legacy to Swarovski. We are pleased to be able to continue to count on Nadja’s involvement in the Swarovski Foundation going forward.”

Board member Markus Langes-Swarovski added: “Nadja’s perhaps greatest legacy to Swarovski are the strides that the company has taken in sustainability and ethics under her skillful direction. We are grateful for her continued involvement in the Swarovski Foundation, that is an important pillar of the sustainability commitment of the Swarovski business and family.”