Lab-Grown Company Taps Ex-Richemont Exec

RAPAPORT... Alain Bernard, the former CEO of Richemont North America, will join the board of Aether Diamonds, a synthetics producer that claims to grow its stones using carbon dioxide from the air.Before his most recent position at Richemont, which he left last year to start a consulting firm, Bernard spent nearly nine years at Van Cleef & Arpels and seven at Cartier, Aether said last week. His new business, Abbey Road Advisory, advises and invests in mission-driven luxury companies."Aether sits squarely at the intersection of luxury and consciousness, which is why I couldn't be more excited to come on board," said Bernard. "As an investor and adviser with aspecial interest in purpose-driven companies, I jumped at the opportunity to leverage the knowledge I've amassed through my decades of work in fine jewelry to help further Aether's mission."Other Aether board members have experience at luxury labels including David Yurman, Tiffany & Co., Harry Winston, Stephen Webster, Theo Fennell, and Mikimoto.Image: Alain Bernard. (Alain Bernard/LinkedIn)