Three experienced jewellery industry association chief executives appointed to senior posts in CIBJO’s jewellery manufacturing and distribution sectors

MILAN, ITALY: AUGUST 22, 2013 – CIBJO has announced the appointment of three veteran jewellery industry chief executives to key positions in the organisation’s Sector B, which covers areas of the jewellery business related to distribution, including retailing, and, and Sector C, which covers jewellery manufacturing, technology and precious metals.

Willie Hamilton, Chief Executive of the Company of Master Jewellers (CMJ) in the United Kingdom, was appointed Executive Vice President of CIBJO’s Sector B. Simon Rainer, Chief Executive of the British Jewellers’ Association (BJA), who already was serving as a Sector C Vice President, was appointed as Executive Vice President of CIBJO’s Sector C. Michael Rawlinson, Chief Executive of the National Association of Goldsmiths (NAG) in the United Kingdom, was appointed as the third Vice President of CIBJO’s Sector B.

The position of a Sector Executive Vice President is a new one in CIBJO, and it will involve functioning as the chief executive of the division within the World Jewellery Confederation.

“Our objective in making these appointments is to inject new momentum and proven ability into these sectors, in order to increase their range of activities and improve the level of service that we provide the industry,” said Gaetano Cavalieri, CIBJO President. “All three men are experienced industry association managers, and possess the knowledge and ability necessary to initiate and sustain change in a representative body like CIBJO. Furthermore, the dialogue that they engage in and their close working relationship will enhance the sectors’ ability to address issues of common concern.”

Willie Hamilton, the new Executive Vice President of Sector B, has led the CMJ, the United Kingdom’s largest buying group and co-operative of independent retail jewellers, for five years, during which its turnover increased from £28 million to just under £88 million. He previously worked in senior positions in marketing, buying, merchandising and operations within the world’s largest consumer co-operative, the Co-operative Group, and holds an MBA in Retailing.

Simon Rainer, the new Executive Vice President of Sector C, has been involved the UK and international jewellery industries for 17 years. As Chief Executive of the 1,100-member BJA, he has taken the lead in dealing issues such as supply chain transparency, mentoring, education, training, security and safety in the workplace. He also is a member of the British Standards STI/053 (Jewellery and Horology) Committee and sits on the advisory boards of the National Skills Academy, the Jewellery Industry and Innovation Centre and the IJL trade show. Simon also serves as President of CIBJO’s Association Executive Networking Commission (CAENCOM).

Michael Rawlinson, newly appointed Vice President of Sector B, joined NAG as its Chief Executive in April of this year. NAG represents 860 retail members with 2,277 retail stores in the United Kingdom. Before then he served as Director General of UKIE, the interactive entertainment association in the United Kingdom, where he developed new services for members, worked widely with related associations, and developed codes of practice. He is veteran retail and consumer goods industry executive, with experience of working together with government at the British and European Community levels, as well as with the media.

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