Platinum Guild International (PGI) has named Huw Daniel acting president of PGI-USA, the U.S. marketing arm for the worldwide platinum industry. Daniel succeeds past president Laurie Hudson, who retired from the position in November 2002.

Daniel comes to PGI-USA from the Saatchi & Saatchi advertising agency, where he was senior vice president and management director. Previously, he served as the diamond marketing group director for J. Walter Thompson in that agency’s Hong Kong office, where he managed integrated marketing communications programs for De Beers in 11 Asian Pacific markets. A four-time Effie Award winner with 22 years of marketing experience on several continents, he has worked on some of the world’s leading luxury and mass brands, including British Airways, Seiko, Guerlain Accessories and Perfumes, Jean Patou Perfumes, Pentax, 3M, Columbia Pictures, and several global Proctor & Gamble brands.

This summer, Daniel will spearhead the American launch of PGI’s new global branding initiative and oversee a stepped-up marketing program for platinum.