Ex-De Beers Exec Joins Synthetics Supplier

RAPAPORT... Lab-grown brand Altr Created Diamonds has appointed RichardWhitby chief financial officer as part of an effort to broaden the company's reach. "Bringing Richard on board marks a pivotal point for Altr aswe continue our global expansion amidst a shift in the industry," Amish Shah,president of Altr, said last week. "Richard brings meaningful executiveexperience increasing the forward momentum of large international diamondbusinesses, and I'm confident his contributions will be key in helping uscontinue to grow and innovate in our category, and the industry itself." Whitby was previously senior vice president of De Beers GlobalSightholder Sales, and worked for the miner for more than 10 years. He isexperienced in global marketing, supply chain, and sales-and-distributionoperations. His move from natural to lab-grown is indicative of theongoing disruption in the diamond industry as consumer interest in syntheticdiamonds continues to grow, Altr noted. "Lab-grown diamonds are a major innovation that is breathingnew life into the diamond industry, and I look forward toapplying my expertise to the future of this field." Whitby said. Image: Richard Whitby. (Altr Created Diamonds)