Policies & IssuesSep 24, 2025
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RJC Names New Executive Director
Former De Beers sustainability leader Purvi Shah will take over the role in February 2026.
Purvi Shah is the Responsible Jewellery Council’s new executive director.
London—The Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC) has named Purvi Shah as its new executive director.
Her appointment is effective Feb. 7, 2026.
She succeeds Melanie Grant, who stepped down earlier this year.
Purvi has more than 15 years of experience in advancing sustainability and responsible business practices in the jewelry industry.
Previously, she served as head of ethical and sustainable value chains at De Beers.
It was under her leadership that the mining company integrated sustainability into its value chain, advancing Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) performance and ambition in line with evolving stakeholder expectations, said RJC.
She led the evolution of the De Beers Best Practice Principles and Pipeline Integrity programs, which are dedicated to advancing ethical standards, provenance assurance, and supply chain accountability.
“I am honored to join the RJC at a pivotal moment for our industry as we work together to shape a future rooted in transparency, accountability, and sustainability. Responsible business is essential to consumer trust, commercial resilience, and long-term value creation,” said Shah.
“I look forward to working with our members, the RJC Board, stakeholders, and the RJC team to advance the RJC’s impact to deliver meaningful, lasting value across the supply chain.”
Related stories will be right here …
Her appointment is effective Feb. 7, 2026.
She succeeds Melanie Grant, who stepped down earlier this year.
Purvi has more than 15 years of experience in advancing sustainability and responsible business practices in the jewelry industry.
Previously, she served as head of ethical and sustainable value chains at De Beers.
It was under her leadership that the mining company integrated sustainability into its value chain, advancing Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) performance and ambition in line with evolving stakeholder expectations, said RJC.
She led the evolution of the De Beers Best Practice Principles and Pipeline Integrity programs, which are dedicated to advancing ethical standards, provenance assurance, and supply chain accountability.
“I am honored to join the RJC at a pivotal moment for our industry as we work together to shape a future rooted in transparency, accountability, and sustainability. Responsible business is essential to consumer trust, commercial resilience, and long-term value creation,” said Shah.
“I look forward to working with our members, the RJC Board, stakeholders, and the RJC team to advance the RJC’s impact to deliver meaningful, lasting value across the supply chain.”
Shah has served as an RJC board member since 2023 and as co-chair of the RJC standards committee since 2018.
She played a key role in the development and launch of the council’s three industry standards—the Code of Practices COP 2024, the Chain of Custody COC 2024, and the Laboratory-Grown Materials Standard LGMS 2025.
Shah has also collaborated with other trade organizations across the global jewelry industry to influence policy, promote collective accountability, and ensure evolving standards meet both industry needs and stakeholder expectations, according to RJC.
In addition, she leads the CIBJO nomenclature committee, where she guided the creation of globally aligned definitions for ESG and sustainability-related marketing terminology, supporting harmonized practices across the sector.
Purvi’s appointment at RJC represents both continuity and ambition, the organization said, also noting that she will lead the council, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, into its third decade.
“Purvi has demonstrated exceptional leadership and vision in advancing ethical business practices across the jewelry and watch sector. Her ability to connect commercial realities with sustainability ambition, and to unite stakeholders behind shared goals, makes her the ideal leader to guide the RJC into its next chapter,” said Dave Meleski, RJC chairman.
To learn more about the Responsible Jewellery Council, visit its website.
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