RJC announces new board appointments at Moscow meeting
The meeting also discussed the importance of the detection and disclosure of laboratory-grown diamonds
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The Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC) has announced a series of senior appointments to its board of directors at its AGM in Moscow.
David Bouffard, vice president of Signet corporate affairs, has been appointed the new RJC chair. Bouffard has been the chair of the RJC communications committee since 2015 and a member of the RJC executive committee since 2012.
Peter Karakchiev, head of international relations at Alrosa has been appointed vice-chair.
He was elected to the RJC board of directors in November 2016 and in his new role will promote further development of RJC standards.
Jason Rubin, president and CEO of the republic metals corporation has been appointed as the RJC’s new honorary secretary. A precious metals refining expert with more than 20 years’ experience, Rubin will be responsible for supporting the chair and vice-chair with their duties.
A number of new board members were also appointed to represent their respective area of expertise on the RJC’s board of directors: Didier Backaert, Bonas & Co Ltd.; Rene Wiskemann, Allgemeine Gold- und Silberscheideanstalt AG; Giorgio Bodei, Pomellato SPA; Isabelle Poly, Piaget; Deborah Azar, Gemological Science International; and Stephane Fischler, IDMA.
Several RJC member companies from around the globe attended the meeting, where they discussed the RJC’s future direction, and how best to drive forward the rigour, responsibility and transparency that the RJC aims to bring to the industry both upstream and downstream.
Among the key issues addressed was the importance of the detection and disclosure of laboratory-grown diamonds.
David Bouffard, the new chair of the RJC, said: “Having been a part of the RJC for the past six years I’ve seen the organisation grow and am extremely proud of what has been achieved.
“Our role is to ensure the highest possible standards of responsibility are met throughout the industry supply chain and in my new role as chair, I will drive further improvements in the RJC’s influence in all global geographies, in all jewellery sectors, and to all stakeholders.”
