All India Gem & Jewellery Domestic Council (GJC), the apex body representing the Indian gem and jewellery industry, is pleased to announce that Mr. Rajesh Rokde has been elected as the new Chairman and Mr. Avinash Gupta the new Vice Chairman of the council. This is confirmed during the council’s first Board Meeting of the COA 2025 – 26 post completion of their COA elections held in December 2024.

Mr. Rajesh Rokde, from the esteemed Rokde Jewellers in Nagpur, upholds a remarkable legacy of over 100 years in the jewellery industry. Representing the Large Retailers category in GJC, he has distinguished himself through an unwavering dedication to quality, innovation, and customer trust—the hallmarks of his family’s renowned brand. His proactive leadership as Vice Chairman and Legal Committee Convener has significantly benefited the jewellery industry by addressing critical issues such as GST for the Gems and Jewellery sector, import duty, hallmarking, 411, and many other pivotal matters. He has made numerous representations to government officials to resolve these challenges, and his timely actions have consistently brought positive outcomes for the industry. Mr. Rajesh Rokde, a stalwart in the jewellery industry with decades of experience, takes over as the Chairman. Known for his visionary leadership and deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities within the sector, Mr. Rokde aims to drive initiatives that will strengthen the domestic market, promote innovation, and enhance the global competitiveness of Indian jewellery.

Mr. Rajesh Rokde, Chairman GJC, stated: “I am deeply honoured to take on the responsibility of leading GJC at this pivotal time. The Indian gem and jewellery industry stands at the cusp of transformation, and it is our mission to work collectively towards sustainable growth, increased consumer trust, and greater recognition on the global stage. I look forward to collaborating with industry stakeholders to achieve our shared vision.”

Mr Avinash Gupta, based in Hyderabad from Mamraj Mussadilal Jewellers is a renowned personality of the Gems and Jewellery Industry and over many years, he has played a pivotal role in GJC during his tenure 2016-2022.His pro active approach in legal and compliance issues has benefitted industry a lot for example GST for Gems and Jewellery Industry, Import Duty and many other critical matters. Mr Gupta has also played a lead role by representing GJC in delegation to Shanghai ,London and Turkey to study Gold Exchanges  to setup IIBX and he has been instrumental in many other prominent  initiatives of Industry Mr. Avinash Gupta, a respected name in the industry and a long-standing member of GJC, has been elected as the Vice Chairman. Mr. Gupta brings with him a wealth of experience and a strong commitment to fostering innovation and excellence across the sector.

Expressing his gratitude, Mr. Avinash Gupta said: “It is a privilege to serve as the Vice Chairman of GJC. Together with Mr. Rokde and our dedicated COA team, I am confident that we can address the challenges faced by the industry and pave the way for new opportunities. Our focus will remain on driving ethical practices, embracing technological advancements, and ensuring the growth of small and medium enterprises in this sector.”

Outgoing Chairman, Mr. Saiyam Mehra, who will now take the position as Immediate Past Chairman, also shared his thoughts on the leadership transition, stating: “It has been an incredible journey serving as the Chairman of GJC. I am proud of what we have accomplished together, from championing the interests of the industry to driving initiatives that have strengthened GJC and our community. I extend my heartfelt congratulations to Mr. Rajesh Rokde and Mr. Avinash Gupta, and I am confident that their leadership will take GJC to new heights. I will continue to support the Council and the industry in every possible way.”

The new leadership team aims to focus on key areas such as skill development, promoting ‘Make in India’ initiatives, enhancing consumer confidence through transparency, and addressing the concerns of all stakeholders, including artisans, traders, and retailers.

The All India Gem & Jewellery Domestic Council is committed to its role as a catalyst for growth and a unifying voice for the industry. Under the able leadership of Mr. Rajesh Rokde and Mr. Avinash Gupta, GJC is poised to usher in a new era of progress and innovation.

In December 2024, GJC successfully conducted their COA Elections, wherein the members of the GJC Committee of Administration (COA) for the term 2025-26 are as follows:

1. Mr. Rajesh Rokde (Chairman & Zonal Chairman – West) – Large Retailer, West Zone
2. Mr. Avinash Gupta (Vice Chairman & Zonal Chairman – South) – Larger Wholesaler, South Zone
3. Mr. Saiyam Mehra (Immediate Past Chairman) – Large Wholesaler, West Zone

• Dr. Ravi Kapoor (Zonal Chairman – North) – Large Retailer, North Zone
• Mr. Sunil Poddar (Zonal Chairman – East) – Medium Manufacturer Jewellery, East Zone

1. Mr. Amit Jindal (COA Member) – Medium Retailer, North Zone
2. Mr. Amit Kumar Soni (COA Member) – Small Manufacturer Jewellery, East Zone
3. Mr. Ashok Kumar Jain (COA Member) – Medium Retailer, South Zone
4. Mr. Gurjeet Singh (COA Member) – Small Retailer, North Zone
5. Mr. HM Sultan Mohideen (COA Member) – Small Retailer, South Zone
6. Mr. Madan Kothari (COA Member) – Small Manufacturer Jewellery, West Zone
7. Mr. Nilesh S. Shobhawat (COA Member) – Small & Medium Wholesaler, West Zone
8. Mr. Ravi Prakash Agarwal (COA Member) – Small Retailer, North Zone
9. Mr. Rupesh Tambi (COA Member) – Small & Medium Wholesaler, North Zone
10. Mr. Sahil Mehra (COA Member) – Medium Manufacturer Jewellery, West Zone
11. Mr. Salim Daginawala (COA Member) – Large Retailer, West Zone
12. Mr. Samar Kumar De (COA Member) – Medium Retailer, East Zone
13. Mr. Siddharth Sawansukha (COA Member) – Large Manufacturer Jewellery, East Zone
14. Mr. Sourav Roy (COA Member) – Small Retailer, East Zone
15. Mr. Suyash Agrawal (COA Member) – Small & Medium Manufacturer Silver Jewellery, West Zone
16. Mr. Vardhaman Kothari (COA Member) – Small Retailer, West Zone

Industry Veteran Huw Daniel to retire, Tim Schlick named new CEO

Platinum Guild International, the jewellery industry’s authority on the world’s most precious metal, announced today that its long-time chief executive, Huw Daniel, will retire at the end of March, after twenty one years with the organization. He will be succeeded by Tim Schlick the organization’s current Chief Operating Officer, who will begin his tenure as Chief Executive Officer on April 4, 2024. Having been a valued member of PGI since 2015, when he joined as Chief Strategy Officer, the transition is expected to be seamless.

Originally from Wales, Daniel spent a large portion of his career in advertising, working in both Europe and Asia, for notable clients such as British Airways and Proctor & Gamble, prior to joining PGI. His first introduction to the jewellery industry was his tenure with DeBeers in Asia Pacific, where he worked on campaigns for eleven global markets.

Having started his tenure in 2003 as president of PGI USA, Daniel rose to the position of CEO in 2015.

On becoming CEO, Daniel shared, “It allowed me to leverage all the great people at PGI to build a high performing global team focused on driving innovation and value creation for the jewellery industry with platinum.”

When asked how PGI’s role within the industry has changed during his time at the helm, he noted “Our organization has evolved from a marketing/PR/event machine to a business partner with the jewelry industry. Platinum will always be a small part of the industry due to its natural rarity, but it can be a very important driver of differentiation and profitability.  PGI’s focus today is to enable our partners to get the maximum incremental return from this superb material.”  

Benny Oeyen, Executive Head, Market Development, PGMs, for Anglo American, who support Platinum Guild International via dedicated funding, commented “It has been a pleasure to work with Huw over the years and I thank him for his unwavering commitment to developing the demand for platinum jewelry globally.” He continued, “My congratulations to Tim on his new role and I look forward to continuing to work closely together, as our relationship with Platinum Guild is fundamental to building and supporting platinum’s growth in the jewellery sector.”

 Schlick’s vision for the future includes building on the strong foundation established by Daniel. He explained, “To me, the next logical step is to apply what we have built over the years to unlock more opportunities for the trade, and by doing so, create incremental value for both our partners and sponsors, scaling the value we create.”