Head of Asian Gem Institute Steps Down

RAPAPORT... Barbara Wheat will leave her position as president of theAsian Institute of Gemological Sciences (AIGS), the institute's owner, the HoGroup, said Tuesday. Wheat (pictured) will relocate from Thailand to the US to become vicepresident of international relations and business development for the Ho Group.Before joining AIGS, she was executive vice president of the Natural ColorDiamond Association (NCDIA). "We're very sorry to see Barbara leave Bangkok, but arepleased that she will still be working with our group of companies in a keystrategic role to develop international business opportunities," said Henry Ho,founder and chairman emeritus of AIGS. In her new position, Wheat will beresponsible for special projects - such as the Bangkok Diamond and PreciousStones Exchange and the Ruby World Forum - raising the profile of the HoGroup, and recruiting new clients. "I'm delighted that I will be taking on a fresh position todrive forward the international profile and business development of the Hofamily, their special projects and companies," Wheat said. The Ho Group has not yet appointed a new president of AIGS,a company spokesperson told Rapaport News.