GIA Names Baker CEO & President

The Board of Governors of the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) named Susan M. Jacques chair, replacing Ralph Destino. Four new governors joined the board, which also named GIA President Donna Baker CEO of the Institute, expanding her current role.

Jacques is president and chief executive of Borsheim’s Jewelry Company, a Berkshire Hathaway Inc. company.

Baker will be responsible for carrying out the strategic plans and policies in addition to her duties as president, namely responsible for operations, tactics, and attending to the daily business of the organization, the GIA announced Thursday night.

The board, at its Monday meeting, appointed Anna Martin vice chair. She is managing director, head global marketing, diamonds and jewelry for Standard Chartered Bank. Prior to this position, Martin was senior vice president and regional manager of ABN AMRO international diamond and jewelry group in New York for more than 42 years.

Destino was named GIA chairman emeritus.

The four new governors seated by GIA are John A. Green, president and CEO of Lux Bond & Green as well as chairman for Jewelers of America; Hank B. Siegel, president and CEO of Hamilton Jewelers;  Aron Suna, president of Suna Bros.; and Ephraim Zion, managing director of Dehres Ltd.

They are replacing Helene Fortunoff, Gordon E. Brown, Jr., William B. Cottingham, Eli Haas and Sheldon Kwiat.