Dave Meleski succeeds David Bouffard as Responsible Jewellery Council chairman

Meleski is president and CEO of the Richline Group, a precious metals and materials manufacturer and marketer. It is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway, headed by billionaire investor, Warren Buffett

UK: The Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC) has named Dave Meleski as its chairman, effective immediately. He replaces David Bouffard who served in the position for the past six years.

Meleski is president and CEO of the Richline Group, a precious metals and materials manufacturer and marketer. It is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway, headed by billionaire investor, Warren Buffett.

Meleski joined Richline Group in 2007 as its president. He is credited with expanding the business to a multinational operation based across four continents. He added the CEO title to his role in 2018.

Prior to joining Richline Group, he was with the Aurafin Corp., a manufacturer and distributor of jewelry products. He joined as vice president of sales and marketing and rose up the ranks to become president, CEO, and managing partner. Berkshire Hathaway acquired the business in 2007.

“It is a critical time for the RJC to continue to grow and lead the global supply chain in setting standards for our industry,” Meleski said in a statement. “Richline has been involved at the board and committee level since the beginning of the RJC, and as a global manufacturing company with retail customers around the world, we have helped promote the importance of the RJC as our singular voice for compliance standards since its inception.”

He continued, “I am excited to follow David Bouffard as chair and thank him for his leadership these past six years. I look forward to working with our entire board of directors to push the RJC to even greater reach.”

Bouffard in the same statement described his six years as RJC chair as a “truly challenging yet rewarding experience of a lifetime.”

Bouffard announced in December 2023, that he resigned from his position as vice president of Corporate Affairs, at Signet Jewelers, a position he’s held for the past 12 years. Signet is one of the world’s largest retail jewels, whose brands in the U.S. and the U.K. include Kay Jewelers, Zales, Zared, Blue Nile, and James Allen. Bouffard has been affiliated with Signet since 1997.

“Companies like Signet and Richline along with the valued team members and boards of directors over the past 20 years have taken the RJC from a 14-founding member organization when launched in 2005 to one that is growing stronger each month with over 1,800 members to date,” Bouffard said.

Melanie Grant, RJC executive director since January 2023, will report directly to Meleski.

“Thanks to David for providing great wisdom and support as chair during my first year as executive director,” Grant said. “I’ll be sad to see him go but excited at the prospect of this new era under Dave’s leadership as the RJC goes from strength to strength.”

Edward Asscher, honorary chairman of Asscher Diamonds, and RJC vice-chairman, was also in running for the chairmanship position. He will remain in his current position with the RJC, according to the statement.

The RJC is a sustainability standard-setting organization for the jewellery and watch industry. Its vision is “a responsible worldwide supply chain that promotes trust in the global jewellery and watch industry.” It currently has 1,800 member companies across 71 countries.

Courtesy: forbes.com