Mark Vadon

Executive Chairman and Chairman of the Board
Blue Nile, Inc.
Seattle, Washington

"Why have we grown so much when others haven’t? We stay focused on the tiny little details that matter to customers.”

In 1999, Mark Vadon co-founded Blue Nile, serving as Executive Chairman since February 2008, and Chairman of the Board since inception. Prior to February 2008, he served as Chief Executive Officer from inception and as President from inception to February 2007.

Blue Nile is the nation’s largest online retailer of certified diamonds and fine jewelry. Internet Retailer magazine reports Blue Nile is bigger than the next three largest online jewelers combined.

Blue Nile was built on the premise that choosing an engagement ring doesn’t have to be complicated. Diamonds can be simple to understand and choosing them, Vadon believes, shouldn’t be so difficult. The notion occurred to Mark when, at the age of 28, he walked into a Tiffany store to buy an engagement ring only to leave empty-handed, intimidated and frustrated by what he felt was snooty service.

Blue Nile is a publicly traded company (NASDAQ:NILE) and has been awarded the Bizrate.com Circle of Excellence Platinum Award, which recognizes the best customer service as ranked by actual consumers. Blue Nile is the only jeweler to have ever received this award, and has done so every year since 2002.

From December 1992 to March 1999, Mark worked as a consultant for Bain & Company, a management consulting firm.

Mark holds a BA in Social Studies from Harvard University and an MBA from Stanford University.

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