(PRESS RELEASE) LONDON — The RJC announces that Dave Meleski, President, and CEO of Richline Group, has been elected as the new Chair of the Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC), effective today.
The RJC looks forward to the new Chair steering the team and the ever-growing RJC membership into the future with his clear vision for the changing modern world for our industry, from mine to retail, for fine jewellery and watches. Meleski follows in the esteemed footsteps of David Bouffard who steps down as Chair today, having been elected in 2018 to two three-year terms in the role.
“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 stated. He added, “Richline has been involved at 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. 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 in my term as Chair.”
“It has been an honour to serve as the Chair of the RJC for six years – a truly challenging yet rewarding experience of a lifetime, especially representing Signet, one of the RJC’s Founding Members,” said David Bouffard, RJC Chair, and Signet Fellow of Industry Affairs. “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.”
“Thanks for David for providing great wisdom and support as Chair during my first year as Executive Director. 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.” said Melanie Grant, RJC Executive Director.
Melanie Grant, RJC Executive Director, will report directly to Mr. Meleski. The RJC would also like to thank Edward Asscher, Honorary Chairman of Asscher Diamonds for volunteering to run for the Chair position. Mr. Asscher will remain as Vice-Chair of the RJC.
About the RJC
The RJC is the world’s leading sustainability standard setting organisation for the jewellery and watch industry. Our vision is a responsible world-wide supply chain that promotes trust in the global jewellery and watch industry.
RJC was formed in 2005 by 14 top-tier brands and financial institutions to shift sustainability from an afterthought to a major driving force of change. Today we have over 1,800 member companies across 71 countries.