GIA appoints Brandon H. Pace as general counsel

Brandon H. Pace, an attorney with over two decades of legal experience in the financial and technology sectors, has been appointed by GIA (Gemological Institute of America) as the Institute’s general counsel.

In his new role, he will report to president and CEO Susan Jacques and is a member of the GIA executive team.

According to GIA, Pace brings a “wealth of expertise” in corporate governance, regulatory compliance and strategic counsel to his new role at GIA, where he will oversee all legal matters including intellectual property and trademark protection, litigation, data privacy, risk assessment and mitigation, and contracting.

Before joining GIA, Pace served as the chief administrative officer, chief legal officer and corporate secretary at financial technology company LendingClub where he played a “pivotal role in shaping the company’s strategic direction”. Pace held previous leadership positions at eBay Inc., where he supported eBay and its global subsidiaries on a range of business, legal and risk issues.

Following a transition period, he will succeed Jennifer Wilson, who is retiring after serving as GIA’s general counsel since 2013.

During this transition, Wilson will work closely with Pace to ensure a seamless handover of responsibilities and legal operations.

Pace said: “I look forward to working with the talented team at GIA and contributing to our mission of consumer protection and industry leadership through excellence, integrity and innovation.”

Susan Jacques, GIA president and CEO, added: “Brandon’s extensive legal background and proven track record of driving strategic initiatives make him an invaluable addition to the Institute. As we welcome Brandon to the GIA team, we extend a huge heartfelt thank you to Jennifer Wilson for her decade of service and committed expertise at GIA and for her dedication to our mission.”