GIA’s Boyajian Resigns, Donna Baker Acting President

Bill Boyajian, president of the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) announced his resignation at yesterday's meeting of GIA's Board of Governor's at its Carlsbad headquarters. Donna Baker, GIA’s senior vice president and general counsel, was appointed acting president.

Helene Fortunoff, GIA’s chair of the board, said in a statement that a committee has been formed to search for a permanent president. According to Fortunoff, Baker is a candidate.

Prior to joining GIA in 2001, Baker was a partner in the law firm of Burke, Williams & Sorensen, LLP.

“It has been a challenging, yet productive year for the Institute," Boyajian said. “With many of these matters now behind us, it is the right time for me to retire from GIA. After 20 rewarding years as president of GIA, I feel that it is time to pass the baton to new leadership. I look forward to working with Ralph, Donna, and the board of governors to effect a seamless transition over the next two months."

Boyajian will remain with GIA until the end of July in a consulting capacity.

“GIA has confronted and successfully addressed a number of critical issues this past year,” Fortunoff said.

“The board is grateful to Ralph Destino, Bill Boyajian, Donna Baker, and Tom Moses, who all have worked closely with a special committee of governors to implement a number of important management changes and enhanced policy initiatives. We believe these initiatives have served the best interests of GIA’s stakeholders worldwide," she continued.

“It has been a challenging, yet productive year for the Institute. With many of these matters now behind us, it is the right time for me to retire from GIA,” said Boyajian.

GIA has undergone a difficult period following a lawsuit, which alleged that the grading certificates of two diamonds had been “upgraded.” The lawsuit led to an internal investigation, which resulted in the dismissal of four GIA lab workers and the departure of the lab’s manager.

In addition to the dismissals, a number of changes were implemented at the Institute, including in its donor policies and the cancellation of its exclusive ‘pick-up’ window with diamond firm Rapaport.