Signet, Alrosa Execs Join RJC Leadership

RAPAPORT... The Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC) has named threesenior figures from the trade to positions on its board. The new officers - appointed at the RJC's annual generalmeeting in Moscow last week - include David Bouffard, vice president of corporate affairs forSignet Jewelers, who has taken on the role of chair. He has headed the RJC communications committeesince 2015. The council selected Peter Karakchiev, head of internationalrelations at Alrosa, as its vice chair. He has been on the RJC's board since November 2016. Jason Rubin, CEO of the Republic MetalsCorporation, will be honorary secretary, responsible for supporting the chairand vice chair, as well as ensuring the smooth running of the board andexecutive committee. "The appointment of three highly experienced board officers and anumber of new board members will further improve the depth of expertise we canoffer our members across the jewelry sector," said Andrew Bone, the RJC'sexecutive director. At the Moscow meeting, the board discussed the RJC's futuredirection, methods for driving transparency in the industry, and the importanceof the detection and disclosure of lab-grown diamonds. The RJC also appointed several new members to the board torepresent specific areas of expertise. They are: Didier Backaert, Bonas & Co.Rene Wiskemann, Allgemeine Gold- und Silberscheideanstalt  Giorgio Bodei, PomellatoIsabelle Poly, Piaget Deborah Azar, Gemological Science InternationalStephane Fischler, International Diamond Manufacturers AssociationImage, left to right: Peter Karakchiev, Andrew Bone, Jason Rubin and David Bouffard