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GIA Names New President and CEO
Pritesh Patel, the lab’s chief operating officer, will take over as president and CEO of GIA.
The Gemological Institute of America has opted to promote from within to replace Susan Jacques. On Friday, the lab announced that Pritesh Patel, who has been with GIA since 2015, will succeed Jacques as the lab’s president and CEO.
Carlsbad, Calif.—The GIA Board of Governors has named Pritesh Patel as the new president and CEO of the 94-year-old grading laboratory.
Patel is currently the lab’s chief operating officer.
He will step into his new role on Aug. 4, succeeding Susan Jacques, who is retiring after 12 years at the helm of one of the world’s largest gemstone grading laboratories.
Patel joined GIA as chief information officer in 2015. In 2017, he was named senior vice president and chief operating officer.
As COO, he was responsible for operational strategy, planning, developing and implementing innovative solutions.
Prior to joining the lab, Patel was vice president of information technology at Circor International Inc., a global manufacturer of products in the energy, aerospace, industrial, defense and power generation markets.
He holds an MBA from the University of Southern California’s Marshall School of Business.
“Pritesh’s outstanding experience, character and understanding of the industry and the institute are exceptionally well-suited to build upon GIA’s nearly 100 years of service to the industry and consumers, leading GIA to even greater successes,” said Lisa A. Locklear, chair of the GIA Board of Governors.
“The board of governors, GIA’s global teams, the gem and jewelry industry and consumers owe great thanks to Susan Jacques. Her compassionate, visionary and unwavering leadership during 12 years as CEO and 30 years as a governor and board chair leaves GIA well-positioned to meet the opportunities and challenges of today and those that will come in the future.”
Patel said, “It is the honor of a lifetime to lead an institution as trusted and iconic as GIA.”
“Over the past decade, I’ve had the privilege of working alongside some of the most dedicated and talented individuals in the industry—people who live our mission every day. I’m inspired by GIA’s legacy of excellence and integrity, and I’m committed to building on that foundation with humility, purpose and a bold vision for the future.”
GIA said its board of governors created a dedicated CEO search committee and conducted an “extensive” global search for a new president and CEO.
They considered candidates within GIA, as well as members of the gem and jewelry industry and those with other relevant expertise and experience.
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Patel is currently the lab’s chief operating officer.
He will step into his new role on Aug. 4, succeeding Susan Jacques, who is retiring after 12 years at the helm of one of the world’s largest gemstone grading laboratories.
Patel joined GIA as chief information officer in 2015. In 2017, he was named senior vice president and chief operating officer.
As COO, he was responsible for operational strategy, planning, developing and implementing innovative solutions.
Prior to joining the lab, Patel was vice president of information technology at Circor International Inc., a global manufacturer of products in the energy, aerospace, industrial, defense and power generation markets.
He holds an MBA from the University of Southern California’s Marshall School of Business.
“Pritesh’s outstanding experience, character and understanding of the industry and the institute are exceptionally well-suited to build upon GIA’s nearly 100 years of service to the industry and consumers, leading GIA to even greater successes,” said Lisa A. Locklear, chair of the GIA Board of Governors.
“The board of governors, GIA’s global teams, the gem and jewelry industry and consumers owe great thanks to Susan Jacques. Her compassionate, visionary and unwavering leadership during 12 years as CEO and 30 years as a governor and board chair leaves GIA well-positioned to meet the opportunities and challenges of today and those that will come in the future.”
Patel said, “It is the honor of a lifetime to lead an institution as trusted and iconic as GIA.”
“Over the past decade, I’ve had the privilege of working alongside some of the most dedicated and talented individuals in the industry—people who live our mission every day. I’m inspired by GIA’s legacy of excellence and integrity, and I’m committed to building on that foundation with humility, purpose and a bold vision for the future.”
GIA said its board of governors created a dedicated CEO search committee and conducted an “extensive” global search for a new president and CEO.
They considered candidates within GIA, as well as members of the gem and jewelry industry and those with other relevant expertise and experience.
Jacques announced her plan to retire at the end of 2025 back in January.
She will continue at GIA as a strategic advisor until then.
During her tenure as CEO, Jacques led the lab through significant changes in the industry, global economic and political shifts, disruptions, changing consumer preferences, and the COVID-19 pandemic.
GIA said Jacques safeguarded its reputation for integrity and independence and maintained a steadfast focus on its mission to uphold consumer confidence in gems and jewelry.
Jacques also is a “tireless advocate” for GIA’s extensive research program, as well as its education initiatives, specialized instrument development, and laboratory services, the lab added.
“I’ve been associated with GIA for most of my adult life, first as a student, then as a governor and as CEO for the last 12 years,” Jacques said.
“I have always been a passionate advocate for GIA, its important mission of trust, and its unique role as an industry leader in the global gem and jewelry industry. I am delighted that the board of governors has selected Pritesh as my successor and the next leader of this amazing organization. I, along with our GIA colleagues, will do everything we can to ensure his success. I am confident that GIA’s best days are ahead.”
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