Headlines

Richline CEO Retiring; New Chief Named

Published

7 years ago

May 10, 2018

INSTORE Staff

He’ll leave the company this year.

Richline Group CEO Dennis Ulrich is retiring this year after nearly 11 years leading the Berkshire Hathaway subsidiary.

Dave Meleski, who currently serves as president of the company, will step into the chief executive role.

“Dave and I have worked very closely, in all aspects of the business, and I am confident his leadership will bring Richline to many new and exciting successes in the future,” Ulrich said in a letter to employees and friends.

Ulrich started in the jewelry business in 1974, when he began working at “the original Richline” with his father and mother, Mitchel and Ruth Ulrich.

In 1994, Dennis Ulrich and his wife, Liz, started Beloro, with a focus on Italian jewelry.

In 2007, Bel-Oro and Aurafin, in a simultaneous transaction, were bought by Berkshire Hathaway. The Richline Group was born, and today it has more than 3,000 employees worldwide.

“I have enjoyed the past 11 years working in partnership with Dennis to create a business that both we, our employees, and Berkshire shareholders can be proud of every day,” Meleski said. “The path that Dennis has forged will be one that I look forward to continue.”

Ulrich “will be staying on for some time, to assist Dave in the transition and continue to support key areas of the business,” said Mark Hanna, chief marketing officer for Richline.

Four Decades of Excellence: How Wilkerson Transformed a Jeweler's Retirement into Celebration

After 45 years serving the Milwaukee community, Treiber & Straub Jewelers owner Michael Straub faced a significant life transition. At 75, the veteran jeweler made a personal decision many business owners understand: "I think it's time. I want to enjoy my wife with my grandchildren for the next 10, 15 years." Wilkerson's expertise transformed this major business transition into an extraordinary success. Their comprehensive approach to managing the going-out-of-business sale created unprecedented customer response—with lines forming outside the store and limits on how many shoppers could enter at once due to fire safety regulations. The results exceeded all expectations. "Wilkerson did a phenomenal job," Straub enthuses. "They were there for you through the whole thing, helped you with promoting it, helping you on day-to-day business. I can't speak enough for how well they did." The partnership didn't just facilitate a business closing; it created a celebratory finale to decades of service while allowing Straub to confidently step into his well-earned retirement.