People

Staff -- JCK Online, 8/1/1999 2:00:00 AM

STERLING CEO HONORED AT CHARITY FUND DINNER

Terry Burman, chairman and chief executive officer of Sterling Jewelers Inc., Akron, Ohio, was the guest of honor at the Jewelers Charity Fund for Children Dinner held during The JCK Show in Las Vegas on June 6.

Burman has been Sterling Jewelers’ chairman and CEO since 1995. He is a member of the board of directors of Sterling’s parent company, Signet Group plc. He is a member of the board of the Jewelers Charity Fund and has served on various other charitable boards throughout his career.

The “Facets of Hope” dinner benefited St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, and the Make-a-Wish Foundation. The amount raised was estimated at more than $1.3 million, a 30% increase over last year’s total. Singer/songwriter Paul Anka entertained the 1,000 guests.

This is the first year the jewelry industry has focused its efforts exclusively on helping charities for children.

APPOINTMENTS

Roy W. Gardner has been named director of sales and marketing for Philippe Diamond Corp., a New York manufacturer of fine-quality larger diamonds and fine classic diamond jewelry. Gardner, formerly national account representative for Lustre and Modern Jeweler magazines, will handle diamond and jewelry sales, advertising, marketing, and trade show exhibitions.

Paul Russo has joined Christie’s as a senior vice president and a senior jewelry specialist. Russo, who will be based in New York and joins Christie’s New York Jewelry Department, has 35 years’ experience in the auction business and extensive knowledge of jewelry and the American market. He has handled many of the world’s most magnificent stones and top collections of jewelry and has overseen many sales of extraordinary jewels.

Roger H. Gesswein Jr., chairman of Paul H. Gesswein & Co., will be the honoree at the annual dinner of the Jewelry and Watch Division of the National Conference for Community and Justice, to be held Monday, Dec. 6 at the Pierre Hotel in New York. Gesswein will be honored for his commitment to the industry and to community and humanitarian causes. NCCJ, founded in 1927 as the National Conference of Christians and Jews, is a human-relations organization dedicated to fighting bias, bigotry, and racism in America.