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(CARLSBAD, Calif.) – The Board of Governors of the Gemological Institute of America, Inc. (GIA) has named Pritesh Patel, currently GIA’s Chief Operating Officer, as the Institute’s President and Chief Executive Officer, effective August 4, 2025. Patel succeeds Susan M. Jacques, GIA’s President and CEO since 2014, who will continue at GIA as a strategic advisor until her retirement at the end of 2025.
“Pritesh’s outstanding experience, character and understanding of the industry and the Institute are exceptionally well-suited to build upon GIA’s nearly 100 years of service to the industry and consumers, leading GIA to even greater successes,” said Lisa A. Locklear, Chair of the GIA Board of Governors. “The Board of Governors, GIA’s global teams, the gem and jewelry industry and consumers owe great thanks to Susan Jacques. Her compassionate, visionary and unwavering leadership during 12 years as CEO and 30 years as a Governor and Board Chair leaves GIA well-positioned to meet the opportunities and challenges of today and those that will come in the future.”
“I’ve been associated with GIA for most of my adult life, first as a student, then as a Governor and as CEO for the last 12 years,” said Susan Jacques. “I have always been a passionate advocate for GIA, its important mission of trust and its unique role as an industry leader in the global gem and jewelry industry. I am delighted that the Board of Governors has selected Pritesh as my successor and the next leader of this amazing organization. I, along with our GIA colleagues, will do everything we can to ensure his success. I am confident that GIA’s best days are ahead.”
“It is the honor of a lifetime to lead an institution as trusted and iconic as GIA,” said Pritesh Patel. “Over the past decade, I’ve had the privilege of working alongside some of the most dedicated and talented individuals in the industry – people who live our mission every day. I’m inspired by GIA’s legacy of excellence and integrity, and I’m committed to building on that foundation with humility, purpose and a bold vision for the future.”
During her tenure as CEO, Susan Jacques led GIA through significant changes in the industry, global economic and political shifts, disruptions, changing consumer preferences and the COVID-19 pandemic. She safeguarded the Institute’s reputation for integrity and independence and maintained a steadfast focus on GIA’s mission to uphold consumer confidence in gems and jewelry. She is a tireless advocate for GIA’s extensive research program, industry-leading education initiatives, specialized instrument development and scientifically backed, reliable laboratory services.
Pritesh Patel was named GIA Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer in 2017 after joining GIA in 2015 as Chief Information Officer. As COO, he was responsible for operational strategy, planning, developing and implementing innovative solutions. Prior to joining GIA, Patel served as Vice President of Information Technology at CIRCOR International Inc., a global manufacturer of highly engineered products in the energy, aerospace, industrial, defense and power generation markets. He holds a Master of Business Administration from the Marshall School of Business at the University of Southern California.
The GIA Board of Governors, with a dedicated CEO search committee, conducted an extensive global search, considering candidates within GIA, as well as those from the gem and jewelry industry and those with other relevant expertise and experience.
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