Appointments: PDE, GJEPC, Scott Kay

New York--The Panama Diamond Exchange has named Hecliton Santini Henriques, president of Instituto Brasileiro de Gemas e Metais Preciosos (IBGM), and Dr. Luciano Pataro, founder and director of Gold America S.A., as directors of the organization.

The two have been added as directors to ensure that the Latin American industry is well represented in the organization, the PDE said.

They join other principal industry leaders who have been named PDE directors, including Ernest Blom, President of the World Federation of Diamond Bourses; Gaetano Cavalieri, President of CIBJO, the World Jewellery Confederation; Maxim Shkadov, President of the International Diamond Manufacturers Association; and Roberto Coin, a leading Italian jewelry designer and producer, among others.

Two more directors will be announced shortly, completing the composition of the board. The Panama Diamond Exchange will anchor the $200 million Panama Gem & Jewelry Center, serving as a trade hub for both regional and international companies.

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In an effort to bolster the brand’s growth in the U.S. and in international markets, Scott Kay has hired three C-level executives, all of who are coming from David Yurman.

Effective immediately, Susan Chandler has been appointed to chief merchandising officer, in addition to the announcement that Tom Kennedy has been named as chief commercial officer and John Croston has been selected as the company’s chief supply chain officer.

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The Gems & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) has a new incoming chairman, Pankaj Kumar Parekh, who recently was recognized by the Diamond Dealers Club of New York for his leadership position and efforts to bring closer ties between the Indian and American diamond trades.

Parekh was presented with an award by DDC President Reuven Kaufman and Eli Izhakoff, World Federation of Diamond Bourses and DDC honorary president, at a reception in honor of the first India Diamond Week in New York, held from Aug. 11 to 14. 

At the DDC’s cocktail reception and networking event, Kaufman introduced Parek as “one of the most important people in the Indian diamond industry, and someone who has worked so hard to enhance and improve the industry in India and American-Indian relationships.”