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London, UK—Jonathan Kendall (image), a former senior executive of De Beers Group, has joined Opsydia’s non-executive board of directors, starting immediately. Kendall will contribute towards Opsydia’s international strategy and will use his significant experience and expertise to serve as an advocate for the company’s laser technology solutions at all stages of the diamond pipeline. He will also assist in an advisory capacity, providing Opsydia with insights on regulatory and industry bodies in the diamond sector, as well as expansion opportunities in the USA, India, Southern Africa and China. 

Kendall was president of De Beers Group Industry Services and the Institute of Diamonds for five years, and held roles at CIBJO, the World Jewellery Federation for nearly 15 years. He will continue to serve as CIBJO’s executive vice president and will use his 20 years’ experience across all areas of the diamond trade, including rough sales, marketing and business development, to support Opsydia as it focuses on diamond security initiatives internationally. 

Opsydia CEO Andrew Rimmer said, “We are thrilled to welcome Jonathan to Opsydia at this exciting time in our international growth and development. I am sure that Jonathan’s professional knowledge of the natural diamond sector, coupled with his leadership expertise, will give Opsydia a unique advantage to provide solutions for businesses ready to take the next steps in diamond security and bolster their traceability and transparency initiatives.”

Kendall added, “I look forward to working with Andrew and the Opsydia team in developing new strategies and supporting the company’s goals over the coming months. Opsydia is experiencing real market momentum and I look forward to playing a role in strengthening the diamond industry’s approach to security and empowering transparency and accurate disclosure initiatives in the diamond pipeline.”

In recent months, Opsydia has focused on the two classifications of its sub-surface identifiers, Nano ID and Loupe ID, which allow diamond manufacturers, brands and grading houses to create a permanent physical link between a specific stone and its grading report, blockchain record, or branded jewelry origins.