MajorsJun 30, 2021
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Forevermark CEO Nancy Liu to Step Down in September
De Beers Jewellers CEO Céline Assimon will take over, expanding her role to head both the company’s retail brands.
Beginning in September, Céline Assimon will be CEO of both De Beers Jewellers and Forevermark. (Photo courtesy of De Beers Group)
London—Forevermark CEO Nancy Liu has decided to leave De Beers Group, the company said Tuesday.
She will be replaced by the current head of the De Beers retail chain, Céline Assimon, uniting the company’s retail brands under one CEO.
Liu has been with De Beers for 13 years, and has been heading Forevermark since 2019, taking over for De Beers veteran Stephen Lussier.
During her time with the company, Liu played a key role in developing the Forevermark business around the globe, particularly in China where she established the brand as a “leading player” in the consumer market.
She also has led the development of Forevermark’s wholesale and retail strategies.
De Beers Group CEO Bruce Cleaver described Liu as “instrumental” in developing Forevermark into an internationally recognized brand of responsibly source diamond jewelry.
“Personally, I have enjoyed learning from and working with Nancy, and all of us at De Beers Group thank Nancy for her outstanding work and we wish her all the best for the next chapter in her career,” he said.
She will officially step down as Forevermark CEO on Sept. 5 but will remain with the company until Sept. 21.
De Beers Jewellers CEO Céline Assimon will take over for Liu.
Prior to that, she was CEO of De Grisogono from late 2018 to February 2020, and previously served as director of high watchmaking and jewelry at Louis Vuitton and Piaget.
De Beers said Assimon has “outstanding” experience in growing high-end luxury and jewelry businesses.
“Céline has already shown in her time with De Beers that she has a deep passion for diamonds and sustainability, allied to an extremely keen eye for detail and consumer tastes,” Cleaver said.
“She is the ideal person to lead both our jewelry houses in the exciting next phase of their development as we work to grow consumer desire for De Beers’ inspiring diamond jewelry and our commitment to creating a positive lasting legacy for the people and places where our diamonds are discovered.”
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