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GIA India Names Former De Beers Exec as New Managing Director
Amit Pratihari was previously the managing director of De Beers India and Forevermark India.
Amit Pratihari, formerly the managing director of De Beers India and Forevermark India, has been named managing director of GIA India.
Carlsbad, Calif.—GIA India has named Amit Pratihari as its new managing director.
He succeeds Sriram “Ram” Natarajan, who had held the role since 2020, but was recently named senior vice president of laboratory operations at parent company GIA.
In Pratihari’s new role, he will be tasked with overseeing all aspects of GIA India’s gemological laboratories in Mumbai and Surat as well as the GIA India school in Mumbai.
“Amit’s deep experience in retail and brand management, including more than a decade in the diamond industry, make him ideally suited to build on the success and importance of the GIA India laboratories,” said Natarajan, who continues as a director on the GIA India board.
“His expertise in strategic growth and team leadership is especially relevant given India’s importance to the global diamond market and its emerging role as a key consumer market.”
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He succeeds Sriram “Ram” Natarajan, who had held the role since 2020, but was recently named senior vice president of laboratory operations at parent company GIA.
In Pratihari’s new role, he will be tasked with overseeing all aspects of GIA India’s gemological laboratories in Mumbai and Surat as well as the GIA India school in Mumbai.
“Amit’s deep experience in retail and brand management, including more than a decade in the diamond industry, make him ideally suited to build on the success and importance of the GIA India laboratories,” said Natarajan, who continues as a director on the GIA India board.
“His expertise in strategic growth and team leadership is especially relevant given India’s importance to the global diamond market and its emerging role as a key consumer market.”
Prior to joining GIA India, Pratihari was managing director of De Beers India and Forevermark India, where he worked toward expanding in India and the Middle East.
For the previous 10 years, he held various roles in De Beers retail in India. He also has a decade of experience in consumer-facing retail and brand management.
“I am deeply honored to join GIA India,” said Pratihari. “GIA India is a vital part of the diamond industry in India and around the world. I look forward to contributing to the ongoing success of GIA India.”
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