CJA welcomes Chris Knight as new board chair

The Canadian Jewellers Association (CJA) has appointed Chris Knight of Platinum Unlimited as chair of the board of directors for 2011-2012.

Born in Brockville, Ont., Knight attended the jewellery arts program at Toronto’s Humber College before apprenticing in Germany with a master goldsmith.

Moving back to Toronto, he soon opened up his own jewellery company—Chris Knight Goldsmiths—and by 1990, founded Platinum Unlimited with Uli Dehez and Werner Swoboda.

Today, he oversees the company’s marketing, sales, and business development initiatives.

Knight—a father of two boys aged 12 and 16—started Volunteer Builders 10 years ago, a non-profit organization that constructs buildings for charitable kids’ camps.

Knight takes over as chair from Peter Norton of Nortons Jewellers.