Associate Editor Lauren McLemore headed out West for a visit to Potentate Mining’s operation hosted by gemstone wholesaler Parlé Gems.
Mahiar Borhanjoo Leaves Venus Jewel for DFL Group
He has been appointed its CEO, effective June 17.

Ramat Gan, Israel—The DFL Group announced it has appointed Mahiar Borhanjoo as its new CEO, effective June 17.
A well-known and respected figure in the diamond industry, Borhanjoo has been the managing director of Venus Jewel International since 2015.
During his time at the India-based polished diamond supplier, Borhanjoo oversaw the transformation of the company’s brand and online platform to provide a better customer experience, including the implementation of the company’s complete mine-to-market tracking system.
Before that, he served as the executive director of sales and sightholder services at the Diamond Trading Company (DTC), the since-rebranded sales arm of the De Beers Group, for six years.
In the role, he led a global team that achieved more than $6 billion in annual revenues. Borhanjoo left De Beers when the sales division moved from London to Gaborone, Botswana.
Borhanjoo joins DFL Group at a time when it is looking to “become a disruptive force in the diamond industry,” it said, by providing financing to multiple diamond manufacturers, as well as knowledge and technical support to make their merchandise available online and then deliver the goods securely to a global client base.
Through UNI.Diamonds, its flagship online diamond trading platform launched in October 2018, the DFL Group wants to create one of the largest and most comprehensive suppliers of polished diamonds to the international market.
“Mahiar is an exceptional business leader who has earned tremendous success throughout his career,” said Gil Melamed, a DFL Group co-founder and board member.
“He has led companies through transformative and progressive change, balancing the age-old legacy of diamonds with cutting-edge technology. His knowledge of the industry and experienced leadership will help drive DFL forward, transforming this business. We are delighted to welcome him into our corporate family as CEO and wish him every success.”
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