The International Colored Gemstone Association, New York, has promoted Nathalie Aujard-Pearson to executive director. In addition, ICA has named Steffan Aletti to the new post of Director of Communications.

Aujard-Pearson, who previously served as ICA administrative manager, will be responsible for executing the policies and directives of the ICA Board, as well as organizing, managing and administering the Association’s daily activities, and planning and running meetings, parties, trade shows and biennial congresses. She also writes and edits the bi-monthly ICA Newsletter. She joined ICA in 1999.

Aujard-Pearson has enjoyed an international career that seldom strayed far from the colored stone business. In 1990 she moved to the U.S. from France in order to take her Graduate Gemologist Degree from GIA in Santa Monica, Calif. During the 1990s, she split her time between jewelry and gemstones and the world of international diplomacy, serving six years with the Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of Morocco to the United Nations as secretary of the deputy permanent representative of the Kingdom and administrative assistant of Moroccan diplomats; and working with the Permanent Mission to France as administrative assistant to several French diplomats.

In addition to her work at the U.N., from 1990 to 1999 she worked for Tzoffey’s, Tel-Aviv, and Diamraude, Paris, where she was responsible for the sales departments at many of the Basel Fairs throughout the 1990s; she assisted at jewelry auction exhibitions; and was responsible for the stones and showcases during the exhibition of diamonds organized for the diamond Jubilee Week in the Diamond Bourse of Tel Aviv in 1998.

In 1990 and 1991, Aujard-Pearson worked as stone manager for Mouawad Bangkok Co., Bangkok, Thailand, where she was responsible for the selection and purchase of diamonds and colored gemstones, and managed a team of selectors and cutters. Prior to that, she worked in various capacities for Sotheby’s in New York and Geneva, Barakat Jewelry in Jeddah, and Cartier Joaillerie International, Paris.

In addition to her GG Degree from the GIA, Mrs. Aujard-Pearson holds a Brevet de Technicien Superieur de Commerce International, Lyon, France; and a Baccalaureat Mathematics, Physics and Biology, Lyon.

Aletti has held several posts in the jewelry industry: nearly two decades as Editor of “American Jewelry Manufacturer” Magazine (AJM), Director of Communications for Manufacturing Jewelers & Silversmiths of America (MJSA), and President of the Jewelry Information Center (JIC). Subsequently, as President of Aletti Communications, he worked with jewelry clients on brochures, newsletters, and publicity campaigns. His most recent position was as senior consultant with New York PR agency Gabbegroup, working with clients such as Johnson & Johnson, BD, and McKinsey.

Aletti is a member of the Twenty-Four Karat Club of New York City and the American Society of Association Executives.

JCK