Signet, Alrosa Execs Join RJC Leadership

RAPAPORT… The Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC) has named three
senior figures from the trade to positions on its board.



The new officers — appointed at the RJC’s annual general
meeting in Moscow last week — include David Bouffard, vice president of corporate affairs for
Signet Jewelers, who has taken on the role of chair. He has headed the RJC communications committee
since 2015.



The council selected Peter Karakchiev, head of international
relations at Alrosa, as its vice chair. He has been on the RJC’s board since November 2016. Jason Rubin, CEO of the Republic Metals
Corporation, will be honorary secretary, responsible for supporting the chair
and vice chair, as well as ensuring the smooth running of the board and
executive committee.



“The appointment of three highly experienced board officers and a
number of new board members will further improve the depth of expertise we can
offer our members across the jewelry sector,” said Andrew Bone, the RJC’s
executive director.



At the Moscow meeting, the board discussed the RJC’s future
direction, methods for driving transparency in the industry, and the importance
of the detection and disclosure of lab-grown diamonds.



The RJC also appointed several new members to the board to
represent specific areas of expertise. They are:



Didier Backaert, Bonas & Co.


Rene Wiskemann, Allgemeine Gold- und Silberscheideanstalt  

Giorgio Bodei, Pomellato


Isabelle Poly, Piaget


Deborah Azar, Gemological Science International


Stephane Fischler, International Diamond Manufacturers Association

Image, left to right: Peter Karakchiev, Andrew Bone, Jason Rubin and David Bouffard