Richard Pesqueira, a 30-year industry veteran who most recently served as director of Tiffany & Co.’s Las Vegas market, has joined the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) as vice president of business development, North America.
Based at GIA’s global headquarters in Carlsbad, Calif., Pesqueira reports to Mark Buntz, GIA’s senior vice president and chief marketing officer, who now oversees the North America, Asia-Pacific, and GIA India business development teams.
Anna Martin, GIA senior vice president of business development and beneficiation, will shift her focus to long-term strategic projects at GIA.
“Richard’s talent and experience are a tremendous addition to GIA, helping us connect even more meaningfully with our industry stakeholders as we work every day to protect consumers and ensure their trust in gems and jewelry,” Buntz said in a statement. “As GIA advances our work with retailers to address consumer demands for more information on the sustainability, traceability, and positive impacts of the gems they buy, building out our team with Richard’s skills and insight is a major step forward.”
Pesqueira got his start in the industry at Rogers Jewelry, a family-owned, 10-store chain in California. He spent five years as vice president of sales and business development at Hearts On Fire, including managing key aspects of the Hearts On Fire/Chow Tai Fook integration, before joining Tiffany & Co., where, as global director of education, he was responsible for all retail product training. The GIA Graduate Gemologist then spent three years as the famed retailer’s director in the high-profile Las Vegas market.
“With its vast retailer and alumni networks, and the trust of both the trade and the public, GIA is leading the transformation that will keep the gem and jewelry industry relevant and successful, today and well into the future,” Pesqueira said in a statement. “I am excited to be part of GIA’s important consumer protection mission, bringing products and services to retailers that benefit their customers and their businesses.”
(Photo courtesy of GIA)
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