LeachGarner Elevates Jennifer Ashworth to Brand Director

LeachGarner, a prominent U.S.-based global precious metals provider with a legacy dating back to 1909, has announced the promotion of Jennifer Ashworth to the position of Brand Director. Ashworth, previously the Senior Brand Manager, will now lead an expanded role encompassing brand strategy for both LeachGarner and Rio Grande Jewelry. Her responsibilities will focus on aligning product positioning and market approach across a comprehensive range of offerings, including mill products, findings, chain, and finished jewelry.

Strategic Vision and Market Leadership

In her new capacity, Ashworth is tasked with driving brand growth, supporting robust product development, and upholding quality standards. She will also coordinate cross-functional initiatives aimed at enhancing the customer experience and bolstering market competitiveness. Her leadership is instrumental in positioning both LeachGarner and Rio Grande Jewelry, as part of The Richline Group portfolio, as dependable and innovative partners for jewelry manufacturers, artisans, and designers.

Ashworth brings over three decades of extensive experience in the jewelry industry, with a background that includes customer service, sales, merchandising, product development, and product management. Her tenure at LeachGarner, spanning more than two decades, has seen her spearhead initiatives to boost product visibility, refine customer support programs, and strengthen the synergy between brand narratives and product strategy. This strategic alignment is deemed particularly crucial in a market characterized by fluctuating precious metals prices and shifting consumer expectations.

Expanded Responsibilities and Digital Integration

Earlier in 2025, Ashworth’s purview widened to include oversight of select product categories for Rio Grande Jewelry, a division of The Richline Group, a wholly owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway. In this dual leadership capacity, she now manages mill products and struck findings assortments across both organizations, ensuring uniformity in quality, integrity in sourcing, and consistent market positioning.

Furthermore, Ashworth has been a key contributor to the enhancement of LeachGarner’s digital customer experience. She has supported the ongoing implementation of advanced online tools and resources designed to offer greater product transparency and accessibility to customers. This promotion underscores LeachGarner’s commitment to strengthening its leadership team, aligning with recent appointments such as Linda Coutu as Director of Sales.

Industry Context and Leadership Synergy

The appointment of Coutu to the newly formed Director of Sales role is intended to bolster commercial strategy and customer engagement. Her extensive experience in the jewelry and precious metals sector is seen as complementary to Ashworth’s expanded brand responsibilities, providing a united front as LeachGarner navigates market volatility and supports its clientele through dynamic pricing environments.

Ashworth holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Visual Design from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, where she concentrated in Metalsmithing and minored in Art History. Beyond her professional achievements, she is an active ambassador for the Alzheimer’s Association MA/NH.

Founded in Attleboro, Massachusetts, LeachGarner has been a significant force in the American precious metals industry since its inception in 1909. The company offers a broad spectrum of melt-to-market products, covering processes from melting and alloying to fabrication and finishing. As a division of Richline Group, LeachGarner remains dedicated to innovation, ethical sourcing, and sustainable practices, setting high standards for responsible metals manufacturing.