The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) has named Pritesh Patel as its new President and Chief Executive Officer, effective August 4, 2025. Patel, currently serving as GIA’s Chief Operating Officer, will succeed Susan M. Jacques, who is set to retire at the end of the year after serving over a decade in the top leadership role.
This leadership change follows an international search conducted by GIA’s Board of Governors and represents a major transition for the nearly 100-year-old organization. Patel is among the select few to ascend through the ranks at GIA, having joined the institute in 2015 as Chief Information Officer, and advancing to COO in 2017.
As CEO, Patel will oversee GIA’s worldwide operations, including its educational programs, laboratory services, research initiatives, and instrument development. Outgoing CEO Susan Jacques, who has held multiple leadership roles at GIA for more than three decades, will remain on board as a strategic advisor until her official retirement in December 2025. During her tenure, Jacques guided the institute through pivotal industry and global changes—such as the emergence of lab-grown diamonds, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and shifting consumer trends—while steadfastly upholding GIA’s mission to protect public confidence in gemstones and jewellery.