Tiffany & Co. said Tuesday that Peter C. Schneirla has joined the company as its new chief gemologist. He succeeds Melvyn Kirtley, who has assumed the position of group vice president and managing director of Tiffany’s business in the United Kingdom.

Schneirla was most recently executive vice president responsible for worldwide sales at Harry Winston. For many years prior, he specialized in the acquisition and sale of fine gemstones and jewelry for private customers. He is a Graduate Gemologist from the Gemological Institute of America and is a Fellow of the Gemological Association of Great Britain. From 1984 to 1993, Schneirla worked at Tiffany, first as a vice president of its diamond office and ultimately serving as senior vice president of jewelry merchandising and manufacturing.

In Schneirla’s new role, he will work closely with customers in U.S. and international markets and serve as the company’s media spokesperson on the subject of Tiffany gemstones.

JCK