Mark Gershburg, the CEO of EGL USA, has left the company as of March 11 to open his own gem lab in New York City. Gershburg worked at EGL USA for 22 years, starting as a grader and was promoted up to director and later CEO. He oversaw the tremendous growth of the lab in the last decade.

Gershburg’s new lab, called Gemological Science International, will be located at 581 Fifth Avenue and is scheduled to open in early summer. Joining him from EGL USA will be Debbie Azar, as executive vice president.

“Leaving EGL USA was a very difficult decision. I thoroughly enjoyed working with its fine staff, who helped me grow EGL USA into what it is today,” said Gershburg. “But I’m an entrepreneur, and it was time to move on and do my own thing. Debbie and I and the team we are assembling look forward to the challenges of developing a new lab for the 21st Century that will meet the expanding needs of our industry.”

JCK