Andrew Hinds elected new NAG chair

Andrew Hinds, director of high street multiple jeweller F Hinds, has been elected as the new chairman of the National Association of Goldsmiths (NAG).

The nomination was proposed, seconded and carried during the association’s Annual General Meeting, which was held on Wednesday June 18, 2014.

The meeting, which coincided with the first day of Jewellery & Watch London at the Saatchi Gallery, also saw Simon Johnson of Marmalade Jewellery, Chiswick, elected vice-chairman.

Marmalade has been a full member of the NAG since opening in 2004 and Johnson joined the company’s board of directors in 2012.

Commenting on his appointment, Hinds said: “I am both honoured and delighted to be elected chairman of the association and know that I have a tough act to follow in Pravin Pattni.

“I am also excited about the association’s prospects over the next couple of years. I expect us to make further progress in both education and through the benefits of membership that we offer to all jewellers, to the extent that I hope that every jeweller will want to join.”

Johnson said: “There are many challenges facing the jewellery trade in the coming years, not least the rise of internet sales, technology advances and a loss of key skills that have formed the heart of our trade for many years.

“Fortunately [the NAG], under the previous chairman, started to rise to these challenges and is now changing the playing field in order to continue providing the assistance, guidance, support and education the jewellery retailer and trade needs now and going forward.

“I am 100 per cent committed to helping push forward with these ground-breaking changes under the excellent leadership of Andrew Hinds.”