SourcingMay 20, 2024
Anglo American Confirms It Is Looking to Sell De Beers SourcingJun 12, 2024
Bruce Cleaver Is Gemfields’ New Chair
The former De Beers CEO will step into the role next month.
Bruce Cleaver, who led De Beers from 2016 until 2023, has joined Gemfields’ board as chair, effective July 1.
London—Gemfields announced it has appointed former De Beers Group CEO Bruce Cleaver as chair and independent non-executive director.
“Bruce’s reputation as a preeminent leader is well documented and he brings considerable experience of mining gemstones in Africa and marketing them internationally,” said Gemfields.
Cleaver joined De Beers in 2016 and headed the company for more than six years, overseeing the launch of Lightbox and the creation of blockchain platform Tracr among other key initiatives.
His position with Gemfields will begin July 1.
Cleaver noted parallels between the how the two mining companies deliver consistent and reliable supply.
“Gemfields is a unique and extraordinary business, one that has taken a fragmented and fairly informal industry to considerable sophistication as the first consistent supplier of significant quantities of colored gemstones in a responsible and transparent manner,” he said.
“The colored gemstone market has long-transcended the arrival of its lab-grown counterparts, with lab-grown rubies having been around for more than 120 years.”
Cleaver noted he looks forward to working with the Gemfields team to prepare the company for its next stage of growth, which includes the construction of a new processing plant at Montepuez Ruby Mining Limitada, the company’s ruby mine in Mozambique.
The new plant, designed to triple throughput capacity, is scheduled to be completed during the first half of 2025, he said.
Cleaver will also become chair of the nomination committee.
He will succeed Martin Tolcher, who has served as a board member since 2008 and as chair since 2019.
“I am truly delighted to have such a remarkable successor in Bruce and am confident that Gemfields will go from strength to strength under his stewardship,” Tolcher said.
Related stories will be right here …
“Bruce’s reputation as a preeminent leader is well documented and he brings considerable experience of mining gemstones in Africa and marketing them internationally,” said Gemfields.
Cleaver joined De Beers in 2016 and headed the company for more than six years, overseeing the launch of Lightbox and the creation of blockchain platform Tracr among other key initiatives.
His position with Gemfields will begin July 1.
Cleaver noted parallels between the how the two mining companies deliver consistent and reliable supply.
“Gemfields is a unique and extraordinary business, one that has taken a fragmented and fairly informal industry to considerable sophistication as the first consistent supplier of significant quantities of colored gemstones in a responsible and transparent manner,” he said.
“The colored gemstone market has long-transcended the arrival of its lab-grown counterparts, with lab-grown rubies having been around for more than 120 years.”
Cleaver noted he looks forward to working with the Gemfields team to prepare the company for its next stage of growth, which includes the construction of a new processing plant at Montepuez Ruby Mining Limitada, the company’s ruby mine in Mozambique.
The new plant, designed to triple throughput capacity, is scheduled to be completed during the first half of 2025, he said.
Cleaver will also become chair of the nomination committee.
He will succeed Martin Tolcher, who has served as a board member since 2008 and as chair since 2019.
“I am truly delighted to have such a remarkable successor in Bruce and am confident that Gemfields will go from strength to strength under his stewardship,” Tolcher said.
Additionally, Simon Scott will join the board as independent non-executive director, and Kieran Daly will join the board as non-executive director.
Scott will also join the audit committee and the nomination committee, and he will also chair the risk council.
Scott, who was previously chief financial officer at British producer of platinum group metals Lonmin plc (formerly Lonrho plc), is also a non-executive director of First Quantum Minerals Ltd. and Sylvania Platinum Ltd.
Daly is currently an alternate director to Patrick Sacco on the Gemfields board, and he holds board-level roles in other mining companies, including at Australia-based Atlantic Lithium Ltd.
Daly is managing director of mining holding company Assore International Holdings, which holds a 29 percent holding in Gemfields, and a growth and strategic development executive at Assore Holdings.
Kwape Mmela, Gemfields’ independent non-executive director, chair of the remuneration committee, and a member of the nomination committee, will become lead independent non-executive director and join the audit committee.
All new appointees will step into their new roles July 1.
Lead Independent Non-Executive Director Lumkile Mondi and Independent Non-Executive Director Carel Malan are resigning, also effective July 1.
Mondi, as well as Tolcher, signaled last year that they were entering their final terms in office on the Gemfields board.
Malan will focus on his now permanent role at Ore & Metal Company Ltd., a subsidiary of Assore Holdings.
“Martin, Lumkile, and Carel have all provided invaluable contributions to the company during their respective tenures on Gemfields’ board,” the company said.
Gemfields’ annual general meeting will take place June 25.
More on Sourcing
The Latest
ColumnistsJul 28, 2026
Peter Smith: Why Your Job Postings May Be Working Against You Smith reveals the method The Retail Smiths use to help retailers and vendors write better job postings.
FinancialsJul 28, 2026
Tiffany & Co., Bulgari Lead the Way for LVMH in H1LVMH’s jewelry and watch brands outperformed the company’s other divisions in an environment the company described as “disrupted.”
CollectionsJul 28, 2026
Lionheart’s New Collection Unites Spiritual Iconography“Sacred Heart” features symbols like crosses, angel wings, the Star of David, and the evil eye as a representation of coexistence.
Brought to you by
Why More Jewelry Retailers Are Hosting Turnkey Estate Buying EventsRetailers are seeking new ways to attract customers, increase traffic, and create revenue – Estate buying events are a popular solution.
Events & AwardsJul 28, 2026
The Edge Funding 2 Scholarships Via 24 Karat Club SEUS The scholarships will go to early-career professionals looking to study gemology, bench work and jewelry design, or store operations.
Weekly QuizJul 23, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
SurveysJul 27, 2026
Jewelry Leads Luxury Market Amid Stabilization, Bain SaysBain & Company delved into the trends shaping the luxury market, the impact of AI, and more in its recent study.
Policies & IssuesJul 24, 2026
New Trump Tariffs: What They Mean for Jewelry The new sweeping slate of tariffs impacts 60 countries, including India, China, Thailand, Hong Kong, and the United Arab Emirates.
Brought to you by
Wedding Band Trends 2026: Personalization Takes Center StageColored gemstones, artisan finishes, mixed metals, and meaningful details are shaping demand in bridal jewelry.
TrendsJul 24, 2026
Amanda’s Style File: Ode to ‘The Odyssey’From coin pendants to diamond shields, these old world-inspired jewels are the perfect accessory for an epic journey.
TrendsJul 24, 2026
Courtney Leidy’s Silk Cord Pendants Center Unexpected Pairings Our Piece of the Week pairs a checkerboard-cut amethyst with an ivy green silk cord.
PodcastsJul 23, 2026
Episode 7: Reinhold Jewelers on the Power of RelationshipsMildred Marcano Abrams and Yael Reinhold join the podcast to talk community connections, holiday plans, and preserving Reinhold’s legacy.
CollectionsJul 23, 2026
Silvia Furmanovich’s New Collection Travels Back to the 1920s“Art Deco” fuses ancestral techniques, rare materials, and modern perspectives as a tribute to the optimism and curiosity of the movement.
IndependentsJul 23, 2026
Sissy's Log Cabin Opens Casino StoreThe jeweler’s newest store is inside Arkansas’ Saracen Casino Resort.
WatchesJul 23, 2026
Movado Inks Licensing Deal With Kate Spade New YorkThe watch company will design, manufacture, and distribute Kate Spade New York watches.
Policies & IssuesJul 22, 2026
Trump to Put 50% Tariff on Canadian Goods The higher tax is set to go into effect in August and will apply to loose polished diamonds as well as precious and base metals jewelry.
CollectionsJul 22, 2026
Monica Rich Kosann’s High Jewelry Is FruitfulThe “Enchanted Garden” series features a cherry, lemon, and pear that each hold a little secret inside.
IndependentsJul 22, 2026
Liljenquist Beckstead Opens Rolex New BoutiqueIt’s located in Tysons Galleria, an upscale shopping center in the Washington, D.C., metro area.
Events & AwardsJul 22, 2026
NY Now Returns in August Under New OwnershipThe show, recently acquired by Rockview Management Group, will be held at New York City’s Javits Center from Aug. 2-4.
ColumnistsJul 21, 2026
Sherry Smith: Shattering the Illusion of the ‘Either/Or’ Diamond MarketSmith offers retailers guidance on creating an environment where natural and lab-grown diamonds can both thrive.
Events & AwardsJul 21, 2026
Apollo Funds Completes Emerald AcquisitionFormer Emerald President and CEO Hervé Sedky has transitioned to the role of senior advisor.
CollectionsJul 21, 2026
Graff’s New Butterfly High Jewelry Brooches MetamorphosizeThe 12-piece capsule collection transforms from brooches to pendants.
SourcingJul 21, 2026
Anglo Reportedly Selects Gareth Penny’s Consortium as Top Bidder for De BeersA Botswana government official told lawmakers Anglo has selected The Global Diamond Consortium, an entity chaired by Penny, to buy De Beers.
Policies & IssuesJul 20, 2026
Tariffs on Brazil to Increase But Rough Gemstones ExemptThe new tariff, imposed after a Trump administration study, is 25 percent and will stack on top of existing tariffs.
CollectionsJul 20, 2026
Vhernier Transforms ‘Freccia’ Collection Into High JewelryThe collection from 2014 has been reinterpreted into high jewelry with its signature triangular-shaped elements.
MajorsJul 20, 2026
Krista Collins Walters Promoted to Publisher of InstoreShe will also take on the role of vice president of jewelry for SmartWork Media, a newly created position.
Events & AwardsJul 20, 2026
TJS Accepting Speaker Proposals for 2027 EventOrganizers are looking for presentations on topics like manufacturing, technology and research, bench work, gemstones, and sustainability.
CollectionsJul 17, 2026
HOWL Taps Shailene Woodley for ‘Home Sweet Home’ CampaignWoodley is seen in the campaign wearing our Piece of the Week, the “Frida” collar featuring 13 pieces of hand-carved Venetian glass.
