Gretchen Koback Pursel is the new chief people officer at the company formerly known as Saks Global.
Appointments: Crimmin now VP of GIA lab operations
Matt Crimmin has been appointed vice president of laboratory operations at the Gemological Institute of America, where he will oversee regional lab operations with a focus on Africa and the Middle East.
New York--Matt Crimmin has been appointed vice president of laboratory operations at the Gemological Institute of America, where he will oversee regional lab operations with a focus on Africa and the Middle East.
From 2010 to 2011, Crimmin served as the GIA’s director of laboratory strategic initiatives, and prior to that helped to lead operational aspects of the institute’s international lab expansion. He also has worked for consumer goods company Procter & Gamble.
Crimmin will report to Tom Moses, senior vice president of the GIA.
Tammy Kidder has been promoted to vice president of findings, metals and recycled materials at Stuller Inc.
She formerly worked as the executive director of corporate operations at the company, and also has held positions in product design and development, merchandising, materials control and procurement.
In addition, Shawn Montgomery, Stuller’s current executive director of customer experience, has been promoted to vice president of sales.
Hal Rubenstein has been named global style director at fine jewelry brand Gabriel & Co., effective May 1.
He will work with other designers at the company to curate a series of style initiatives tailored to a new generation of female customers, Gabriel & Co. said, redefining the brand’s look, feel and messaging through collections, interactive presentations and media campaigns.
Rubenstein previously served as the fashion director at InStyle and now also runs the newly established firm Hal Rubenstein & Associates, of which Gabriel & Co. is the first fine jewelry partner.
Peggy Jo Donahue has been appointed director of the MJSA Education Foundation, a non-profit organization that supports educational programs and initiatives that help the industry to maintain a qualified, competitive workforce.
Donahue formerly served as director of public affairs at MJSA, a position she held since 2009. She also is the former editor-in-chief of both JCK and Professional Jeweler magazines, and has received the Jesse H. Neal National Business Journalism Award and the Women’s Jewelry Association Award for editorial excellence.
Honolulu-based Maui Divers Jewelry has promoted Emily Carl Tom to vice president of brand management and communications, a newly created position within the company.
Tom joined Maui Divers last December, coming to the company from Italian jewelry brand Damiani, where she served as boutique director.
She also previously was the operations manager, market merchandise manager and sales manager at Tiffany & Co. stores in Hawaii, Beverly Hills and Palo Alto, Calif., and was the merchandise manager
Terry Chandler, president and CEO of the Diamond Council of America, has been appointed to the board of the Something for Kelly Foundation, which works to prevent eating disorders in children ages 6 to 12.
The foundation was created in 2014 by industry veteran and jewelry appraiser Patti Geolat following her niece’s death in 2009. Through its programs and services, the foundation aspires to create a mindset shift in children with a predisposition to eating disorders, assist them in recalibrating their relationship with food and motivate them toward a healthy lifestyle.
Editor's note: This article was updated May 1, 2014 to reflect that Hal Rubenstein & Associates is not a public relations firm.
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