WD Lab Grown Diamonds Hires New CEO

RAPAPORT… WD Lab Grown Diamonds has appointed jewelry-industry veteran
Sue Rechner CEO. She will be responsible for growing the brand and expanding
the company’s market reach.

Rechner, who held executive roles at Movado, Frederick
Goldman, Citizen and Seiko, was most recently global president of outdoor
footwear and apparel brand Merrell. She will succeed founder Clive Hill, who
will continue to be a significant shareholder and serve as an active board
member.

“Sue is exactly the kind of proven and experienced executive
we were seeking to lead WD’s growth,” Hill said Tuesday. “She is an
entrepreneurial, results-driven leader with proven business, brand-development
and operational expertise. With significant experience in watch, jewelry and
consumer products, we believe Sue is the perfect fit to lead WD through its next
phase of growth.”

Rechner’s hire is the next step toward reaching a larger
audience, after the Washington, DC-based company received funding from Huron Capital last year, the company explained.

“Huron Capital believes in the potential of this market, saw
an opportunity to provide growth capital, and also plans to help develop the
human capital to position the company for success,” said Mike Beauregard,
senior partner at Huron. “I am confident Sue is the right leader to further
accelerate its growth trajectory in the right way.”

The synthetics industry is in a “significant” growth
phase, at a time when consumers are seeking more knowledge about the origin of
their stones, Rechner explained.

“I see WD as a leading force in transforming an industry
that has been historically plagued by traceability issues, which is an issue of
growing importance with an increasing number of conscientious consumers,” she
said.

Image: Sue Rechner. (WD Lab Grown Diamonds)