Appoinment
Amit Pratihari appointed GIA India MD
GIA India Laboratory Pvt Ltd has appointed Amit Pratihari as its Managing Director, effective October 1, 2025. In his new role. He will oversee the operations of GIA’s gemological laboratories in Mumbai and Surat, along with the GIA India School in Mumbai, bringing his extensive experience from De Beers and Forevermark to strengthen the institute’s presence in India’s growing diamond market.
Pratihari brings with him more than 20 years of experience across retail, brand management, and the diamond sector. Most recently, he headed De Beers India and Forevermark India, where he played a pivotal role in strengthening the brands’ presence in India and the Middle East. His career spans key leadership positions at De Beers retail in India, preceded by a decade in consumer-focused retail and brand strategy.
GIA India said his proven expertise and leadership will be vital in reinforcing the institute’s mission of ensuring public trust in gems and jewellery, particularly as India’s role in the global diamond market continues to expand.
“Amit’s deep experience in retail and brand management, including more than a decade in the diamond industry, make him ideally suited to build on the success and importance of the GIA India laboratories,’ said Sriram Natarajan, a director on the GIA India board and senior vice president of laboratory operations for the Gemological Institute of America, Inc. (GIA), the parent organization of GIA India. “His expertise in strategic growth and team leadership is especially relevant given India’s importance to the global diamond market and its emerging role as a key consumer market.”
Commenting on his new position,Amit Pratihari said, “I am deeply honored to join GIA India. GIA India is a vital part of the diamond industry in India and around the world. I look forward to contributing to the ongoing success of GIA India.”
Appoinment
De Beers Names Mallikarjuna Reddy Yarabolu as MD of Forevermark India
Appointment signals accelerated retail expansion as India emerges as a key growth market for natural diamond jewellery
De Beers Group has appointed Mallikarjuna Reddy Yarabolu as Managing Director of Forevermark India, effective January 2026, reinforcing its strategy to expand the brand’s footprint in one of the world’s fastest-growing natural diamond jewellery markets.
Mallikarjuna brings over 20 years of leadership experience spanning fashion, luxury, FMCG and organised retail. He most recently served as Chief Revenue Officer at Arvind Fashions Limited, where he drove sales and revenue strategies for leading brands such as U.S. Polo Assn., Arrow and Flying Machine. Announcing his departure on LinkedIn, he credited the leadership team for the opportunity to help stabilise and transform the business.
Earlier, he spent six years at Nestlé India, heading food service and retail formats including Maggi Hotspots, KitKat Break Zones, Milk Booths and Nescafé kiosks, managing a nationwide network of over 750 outlets. His career also includes senior roles at Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Ltd. (Peter England), Walmart India and Godrej Agrovet.
The appointment comes as De Beers scales Forevermark’s presence in India, now the world’s second-largest market for natural diamond jewellery. Having transitioned from a loose diamond offering to a branded jewellery retail model, Forevermark plans to expand to 100 outlets by 2030.
With rising consumer incomes, increasing premiumisation and rapid growth of organised retail, India is expected to play a pivotal role in the future of natural diamonds. Yarabolu’s expertise in channel expansion and retail-led growth is set to support Forevermark’s next phase of growth in the country.
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