Press Releases

François Delage Joins GIA Board of Governors

Bringing more than 35 years of global experience in luxury, fashion and jewelry retail.

Published

8 months ago

January 30, 2024

Press Releases

François Delage, the newest member of the GIA Board of Governors.

(PRESS RELEASE) CARLSBAD, CA – The Board of Governors of GIA, the Gemological Institute of America, welcomed François Delage as its newest member on January 25, 2024. Delage brings a wealth of experience in global luxury, fashion and jewelry retail garnered over a more than three-decade international career.

“To keep advancing our consumer protection mission, GIA works to understand what gem and jewelry consumers in global markets want and what they need to have confidence in their purchases,” said Lisa Locklear, Chair of the GIA Board of Governors. “With his broad international experience and deep understanding of luxury and jewelry markets and consumers, François Delage is an outstanding addition to the Board.”

Delage has more than 35 years of global experience in the luxury sector as a CEO and operational leader with a strong customer and marketing focus, primarily in luxury, fashion and jewelry retailing with De Beers Jewellers, Forevermark and Louis Vuitton.

“I am pleased and honored to join the GIA Board of Governors, and I look forward to working with the other Governors and GIA management to advance the Institute’s important mission and help secure its continued success well into the future,” said Delage.

“On behalf of our global team, I welcome François Delage to the GIA Board of Governors,” said Susan Jacques, GIA president and CEO. “We rely on our Governors for their insight, wisdom and strategic guidance as we work every day to protect consumers and support the industry.”

Most recently, Delage was the CEO of high-end real estate business Barnes International. He was previously CEO of Adorisa Group, a fine jewelry business. Before that, he was CEO of De Beers’ Forevermark diamond brand and, from 2009 until 2020, CEO of De Beers Jewellers, based in London. He began his career at Louis Vuitton in the finance division and was named finance director for EMEA in 1995. In 1999, he became general manager for LVMH fashion brands based in Guam and, in 2001, president of Louis Vuitton Asia Pacific, based in Hong Kong. Delage holds a business degree in Management and Finance from the European Business School.

The GIA Board of Governors helps direct the strategy of the Institute to ensure that the mission and vision of GIA are followed in all decisions and that the financial goals of the Institute are met. The Governors offer their unique perspectives based on their professional experience in retail, research, education, finance, law, manufacturing and other areas.

You Wouldn’t Cut Your Own Hair. Why Run Your Own Retirement Sale?

After being in business for over a quarter of a century, Wayne Reid, owner of Wayne Jewelers in Wayne, Pennsylvania, decided it was time for a little “me time.” He says, “I’ve reached a point in my life where it’s time to slow down, enjoy a lot of things outside of the jewelry industry. It just seemed to be the right time.” He chose Wilkerson to handle his retirement sale because of their reputation and results. With financial goals exceeded, Reid says he made the right choice selecting Wilkerson to handle the sale. “They made every effort to push our jewelry to the forefront of the showcases,” he says, lauding Wilkerson for their finesse and expertise. Would he recommend them to other jewelers who want to make room for new merchandise, expand their business or like him, decide to call it a day? Absolutely he says, equating trying to do this kind of sale with cutting your own hair. “The results are going to happen but not as well as if you have a professional like Wilkerson do the job for you.”