The appointment is efficient instantly. He replaces Doug Hucker, who left the place in March after greater than twenty years heading the group. (Hucker has since been named CEO of the Worldwide Coloured Gemstone Affiliation.) 

Ford will relocate to Dallas by the top of the month, AGTA confirmed. 

He beforehand served on AGTA’s board of administrators as a member and as treasurer and has 38 years of expertise within the business. 

Primarily based in Galveston, Texas, Ford is the proprietor of The Lightning Ridge Assortment by John Ford, which is centered on black opals from Lighting Ridge in Australia, however will transfer on from that enterprise so he can deal with his new function, AGTA mentioned. 

He’s additionally an American Gem Society member, a Lightning Ridge Mining Affiliation member, and a longtime AGTA member who has received a number of Spectrum Awards. 

Ford brings greater than a decade of company governance expertise to the function, having served in management roles starting from chairman of the Port of Galveston to serving because the president of the Galveston Impartial College District, amongst different management positions. 

He graduated from Texas A&M College with a specialised diploma in worldwide commerce and finance and is an alumnus of the Gemological Institute of America.

“I’m very honored by the arrogance in my management expressed by [AGTA] President [Kimberly] Collins and the AGTA board of administrators,” Ford mentioned. 

He added: “We are going to put our agency members pursuits first, with elevated emphasis on growing retail memberships. The business will see a reinvigorated AGTA rising the promotion of pure coloured gems and pearls, whereas perpetuating the very best moral business requirements.”

Collins mentioned: “Ford was chosen as the perfect candidate to steer AGTA after a professionally managed complete search interviewing many candidates, together with Ford. John’s information of AGTA’s operations alongside along with his company governance expertise made him the clear alternative.”

She added, “John’s imaginative and prescient of AGTA is aligned with AGTA’s government committee, and he has developed a really shut working relationship and belief with the officers, the board, and the Dallas employees.”