The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) has tapped Susan M. Jacques as its president and chief executive officer (CEO).
“The board of governors is very pleased to appoint Susan Jacques to this crucial role as GIA’s president and CEO,” said board chair, John A. Green.
“Her evident passion for the global gem and jewellery industry, impressive success in business, experience as a gemmologist, and commitment to the institute’s public benefit mission led to the board’s decision. She is the perfect person to lead GIA now and into the future.”
Jacques—who is president and CEO of Borsheims Fine Jewelry and Gifts in Omaha, Neb.—had been serving as GIA’s interim president and CEO since June 2013, after Donna Baker abruptly resigned. She will take up her new duties on Jan. 1.
“I am honoured and humbled by this tremendous opportunity to serve with the more than 2000 dedicated GIA professionals across the globe,” Jacques said.
“Together, we will continue to protect the global public by ensuring their trust in the gem and jewellery industry. With the leadership team, particularly senior vice-president of laboratory and research, Tom Moses, I look forward to working closely with all of GIA’s stakeholders to address their important issues as we build on the institute’s successes and strengths. I am blessed to come back to GIA, which contributed so much to my professional life, and am delighted to be able to give back to the industry of which I am so fortunate to be a part.”
Warren Buffett, chair of Berkshire Hathaway, Inc. which acquired Borsheims in 1989, said, “I couldn’t be happier or more proud of Susan. While it is with great sadness that I accept her resignation after her long and stellar career with Borsheims, I know she is accepting a role at GIA that she is passionate about and allows her to give back to the jewellery industry. I am confident she will bring the same style of professionalism and collaboration to her new and exciting role in the gem and jewellery industry that she has honed throughout her years of service at Borsheims.”
Jacques received her graduate gemmologist (GG) diploma in 1980 and was appointed to GIA’s board of governors in 1996. By 2008, she had been elected chair. Jacques is a fellow of the Gemmological Association of Great Britain, and received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Women’s Jewelry Association (WJA) in 2010. She has served on the boards of Jewelers of America (JA), Jewelers Vigilance Committee (JVC), and Jewelers for Children.
