Events & AwardsDec 20, 2024
Two Participants Complete Inaugural Ella Klein InternshipJamie Dunton and Gabriella Botelho are the first graduates of the program, created by the WJA Foundation and Julius Klein Diamonds.
MajorsSep 26, 2019
WD Lab Grown Diamonds Appoints New CEO
Sue Rechner will head the Maryland-based company.
Laurel, Md.—WD Lab Grown Diamonds has appointed Sue Rechner as its new CEO, the company announced Tuesday.
As part of a planned leadership transition, Rechner will step in for founder Clive Hill, who will stay on as an active board member and shareholder.
Most recently, she was global president of outdoor footwear company Merrell, a division of Wolverine Worldwide, and also spent nearly 10 years as CEO of Confluence Outdoor.
Rechner also served as president of Victorinox Swiss Army and CEO of Victorinox Swiss Army Watch, and has leadership experience with a variety of brands, including Movado, Seiko, Citizen and Frederick Goldman, WD Lab Grown Diamonds said.
“I look forward to joining the WD team as we seek to expand our product and services offerings,” she said.
“I see WD as a leading force in transforming an industry that has been historically plagued by traceability issues, which is an issue of growing importance with an increasing number of conscientious consumers.”
Founded in 2008, WD Lab Grown Diamonds specializes in growing diamonds using the chemical vapor deposition, or CVD, process.
The company is owned by founder Hill, Yarden Tsach, Huron Capital, The Carnegie Institution of Washington and other members of WD management.
Detroit-based private equity firm Huron Capital invested in the lab-grown diamond company in 2018, enabling it to expand its capacity and growth.
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