Anna Martin Takes New Role at GIA

RAPAPORT… The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) has appointed Anna Martin as senior vice president for institute and industry relations.

In the newly created role, Martin will be responsible for mentoring the GIA’s senior executives. She will also guide the organization’s leadership teams to help “develop and further” their relationships with individuals and companies across the sector, it said last week.

Martin previously served as the GIA’s senior vice president of business development and beneficiation. Former Tiffany & Co. director Richard Pesqueira succeeded her in that job in December.

The GIA’s work with miners, manufacturers and retailers has “dramatically expanded” during the seven years Martin spent in her former position, noted CEO Susan Jacques.

“In this new role, [she] will devote her expertise and energy to help secure the institute’s future and ensure the success of our very important consumer-protection mission,” she added.

Martin, who earlier this month stepped down as president of the nonprofit Diamonds Do Good (DDG), has a long history with the GIA. She served as a governor on its board from 1997 to 2011, including as vice chair from 2008 to 2011.