George Retires

After 44 years in business, George has stepped down and his daughter Kathleen has taken over ownership.  The transition has been in the works for about a year, but with today being International Women’s Day it felt like an appropriate day to make the announcement official.  Kathleen, who grew up learning the business from her father, has become her father’s right hand over the past year.  It has always been George’s hope to pass the business on to his daughter, but it wasn’t until recently that the opportunity was right for both parties.  “My Dad has built an incredible business and has been so generous sharing what he has learned over more than 4 decades in the business.  I’m so grateful to him and the staff for their faith and support in me,” Kathleen said about the transition.

George started selling gold chains out of a briefcase in 1977.  Eventually, he moved into the shorter brown tower in Oxnard with just a few small jewelry cases. In 2000 George relocated the business to Camarillo and expanded the showroom in 2007. Over the years he built a loyal clientele and established a manufacturing facility in Bangkok, Thailand.  In a letter sent to previous clients George said, “It has been the pleasure of a lifetime working with each and every [client] … I can’t express my gratitude for you all helping me build something I am so proud of.”

Kathleen (Thompson) Kimball
President and CEO of George Thompson Diamond Company

Kathleen (Thompson) Kimball with her husband Charlie, and children Gordon and Hannah