{"id":11,"date":"2010-02-02T15:41:00","date_gmt":"2010-02-02T15:41:00","guid":{"rendered":""},"modified":"2010-02-02T17:09:22","modified_gmt":"2010-02-02T17:09:22","slug":"dror-galili-innovation-in-the-diamond-industry","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/userblogs.ganoksin.com\/jewelrygemartisans\/2010\/02\/02\/dror-galili-innovation-in-the-diamond-industry\/","title":{"rendered":"Dror Galili – Innovation in the Diamond Industry"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Dror Galili is well-known <\/span><\/span>within the diamond industry as<\/span><\/span> Vice President<\/span><\/span>,<\/span><\/span> Business Development <\/span><\/span>of the leading global diam<\/span><\/span>ond group, Almod Diamonds, and<\/span><\/span> as <\/span><\/span>Regional Director of its subsidiary<\/span><\/span>,<\/span><\/span> Almod <\/span><\/span>Namibia<\/span><\/span>. For the past few years, his energy and vision have been instrumental in opening new horizons for Almod Diamonds, ensuring its steady growth and bringing it to the next level.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

A native of <\/span><\/span>Israel<\/span><\/span>, Galili is a third generation diamond industry professional. His grandfather was among the pioneers of <\/span><\/span>Israel<\/span><\/span>\u2019s diamond manufacturing. His father Benjamin Galili has been in the trade for over 30 years and owns a wholesale company with branches in <\/span><\/span>Israel<\/span><\/span> and the <\/span><\/span>United States<\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Galili was just fifteen when he began working in his father\u2019s Tel-Aviv factory doing everything from administrative tasks t<\/span><\/span>o sales and diamond grading. In 2001, when the Galili family established SBM Diamonds in <\/span><\/span>New York<\/span><\/span>, Dror transitioned into management and became one of the entity\u2019s shareholders. Unlike many diamond industry families\u2019 offspring who go straight into the trade, Galili also studied accounting and graduated with honors (Summa Cum Laude) from Adelphi University (BBA) and Baruch College (MS).<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The mystique of diamonds remains his focus. \u201cI <\/span><\/span>have l<\/span><\/span>ived with diamonds since I was a child. I fell in love with the process of taking the rough, which look just like rocks, and making shiny diamonds out of them.\u201d \u201cThese same diamonds,\u201d Galili points out, \u201care the means by which people commemorate the most important moments of their lives.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Galili’s extraordinary accomplishments, talent and passion have earned him much respect within the diamo<\/span><\/span>nd trade<\/span><\/span>. <\/span><\/b><\/span>He will certainly remain at the forefront of the international diamond industry as one of its most successful executives and strongest advocates.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

How did you get your foot in the door in the “Diamond Industry”?<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

In 2005, Galili joined Almod Diamonds, which owns the largest <\/span><\/span>Caribbean<\/span><\/span> retail chain, DI Diamonds <\/span><\/span>International. \u201cI started in the CFO\u2019s office as an accountant doing bank reconciliations, consolidations, and financial statement reviews.\u201d But Almod Diamonds\u2019 President, Albert Gad, saw Galili\u2019s greater potential to engage in other areas of the business and to operate on the executive level. Galili became involved with the company\u2019s manufacturing and retail management, as well as <\/span><\/span>working with the team that is overseeing<\/span><\/span> its cooperation with major cruise lines.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

What challenges have you faced in this position?<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

One of his challenging assignments was \u201cto work out Almod\u2019s relationship with DTC and to implement DTC\u2019s Best Practice Principles.\u201d The Diamond Trading Company (DTC) is the rough diamond distribution arm of De Beers and the largest supplier of rough diamonds in the world.<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span> Under Galili\u2019s able leadership, Almod Diamonds achieved full compliance with DTC\u2019s rigorous requirements and became one of only 80 DTC\u2019s Sightholders around the world<\/span><\/span> and only 11 NDTC sightholders<\/span><\/span> in <\/span><\/span>Namibia<\/span><\/span> in <\/span><\/span>2007. This privileged status enables Almod Diamonds to buy rough diamonds directly from the source.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

What would you consider your finest achievement to-date?<\/b><\/span><\/span> $\"\"$ <\/a><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Galili is one of the Almod team<\/span><\/span>\u2019s<\/span><\/span> significant leaders that is recognized for the comp<\/span>any\u2019s most impressive achievements to date, which is <\/span><\/span>the development and promotion of Almod\u2019s in-house proprietary brand – the Crown of Light, a 90-facet premium diamond cut<\/span><\/span>,<\/span><\/span> famous for its<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span>extraordinary<\/span><\/span> brilliance. In 2009, only two years since its launch, the Crown o<\/span><\/span>f Light has generated nearly $30<\/span><\/span> million <\/span><\/span>USD <\/span><\/span>in sales<\/span><\/span> due to a great <\/span><\/span>company-wide <\/span><\/span>team work effort which Galili is so proud to be part of<\/span><\/span>. The cut was designed to eli<\/span><\/span>cit what Galili calls the \u201cWow!<\/span><\/span> effect\u201d, an appreciative response by a female consumer to seeing this diamond compared to a standard round brilliant stone. In promoting this new brand, Galili has nurtured vital inroads with companies like <\/span><\/span>MGM<\/span><\/span> and SONY Entertainment, and devised other strategies uncommon and innovative for the diamond industry.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

$\"\"$ <\/a><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>It seems that you have taken “branding” and Marketing in the Industry to a new level…what are your thoughts on Marketing in the Industry?<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Galili has been a pioneer and a vocal proponent of branding in the context of diamond jewelry marketing. In a world where virtually all consumer products are branded, the diamond industry is still in the process of adopting the brand name approach to marketing. In such circumstances, developing brand awareness among consumers is very difficult. <\/span><\/span>In large part through the talent, vision and persistence that Galili brings to the Crown of Light management team headed by Albert Gad, the Crown of Light success is an<\/span><\/span> extraordinary triumph <\/span><\/span>for Almod<\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Galili is very definitive in expressing his views on how diamonds should be marketed. \u201cI would like to transform consumer perception of diamonds and diamond jewelry,\u201d he explains.<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span> \u201cWith the Rapaport price list and other ways <\/span><\/span>in which <\/span><\/span>we conduct business, diamonds are treated as a commodity, and I think this is faulty logic. Diamond brands should be treated like people treat Luis Vuitton, Prada, Cartier and other luxury brands,\u201d Galili points out. When consumers go to retailers to buy deluxe goods, they are prepared to pay premium prices. As for branded diamonds, many consumers still focus on their price and attempt to bargain over it, instead of considering the guaranteed quality and trusted value represented by the brand. \u201cWe hope to affect a shift in <\/span><\/span>paradigm thinking by being part of the conversation with jewelry appraisers and other professionals about properly valuing premium diamonds,\u201d says Galili.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Tell me about the Namibian connection…<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

Most of the Crown of Light patented diamonds are produced in <\/span><\/span>Namibia<\/span><\/span>. Galili has been in charge of designing and overseeing Almod\u2019s Namibian operation since its inception. In 2007, he <\/span><\/span>and his team <\/span><\/span>secured a sight with NDTC, a joint venture between the Namibian government and De Beers, for the years 2008-2011, and obtained the licensing needed to build a manufacturing facility. Today, Almod\u2019s factory in <\/span><\/span>Windhoek<\/span><\/span>, <\/span><\/span>Namibia<\/span><\/span> is fully operational and employs over 95 people. As a Regional Director of Almod <\/span><\/span>Namibia<\/span><\/span>, Galili also plans to develop a retail network and foster tourism activities in <\/span><\/span>Namibia<\/span><\/span> from other <\/span><\/span>African<\/span><\/span> & European<\/span><\/span> countries.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The contribution of De Beers and its Sightholders in the producing countries through mining and manufacturing activities maintains a strong hold on Galili. \u201cThe diamond industry is a powerful force in many countries and in the lives of their people. <\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span>But its biggest influence lies in <\/span><\/span>Africa<\/span><\/span>. I was very excited to accept the challenge of expanding our efforts into <\/span><\/span>Namibia<\/span><\/span>.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

How is Almod “giving back” to the Nambian Community?<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

He finds gratification in other aspects of this business besides witnessing the stellar ascent of his company\u2019s favored brand. <\/span><\/span>\u201c<\/span><\/span>I love giving back to the community and positively impacting people\u2019s lives.\u201d Galili found the perfect vehicle for expressing this sentiment – <\/span><\/span>Namibia<\/span><\/span>\u2019s Baby Haven orphanage. This charitable foundation cares for <\/span><\/span>Namibia<\/span><\/span>\u2019s most vulnerable victims: children of HIV-AIDS parents. Through Galili\u2019s persistence and the support of the company<\/span><\/span>\u2019s<\/span><\/span> owners, Almod is partnering with Baby Haven\u2019s cause by delivering practical aid to the children. For Galili, the contrast between children in the States or <\/span><\/span>Israel<\/span><\/span> and these orphans is profound. \u201cIf I give a soccer ball or a Frisbee to any kid in <\/span><\/span>America<\/span><\/span> or <\/span><\/span>Israel<\/span><\/span>, it wouldn\u2019t mean much\u2014basically they might expect an iPod. But <\/span><\/span>to see <\/span><\/span>the look in their eyes when we bring those things to the kids at Baby Haven\u2014it\u2019s as if you gave them the world.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

What are your goals in the Industry and beyond?<\/b><\/span><\/span> $\"\"$ <\/a><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Galili\u2019s immediate ambition is to broaden Diamonds International brand awareness throughout <\/span><\/span>North Americ<\/span><\/span>as <\/span><\/span>launching<\/span><\/span> the global awareness of the DI brand name. His long term goal, however, is to advance <\/span><\/span>the <\/span><\/span>interests of the international diamond community by taking an active role in explaining to consumers what the diamond industry contributes to humanity.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Top Ten Resources<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Resources and Influencers that put you on your current track in life….<\/span><\/p>\n

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1. Industry related books: “From Mine to Mistress” by Chaim Even-Zohar; “Diamond Design” by Marcel Tolkowsky; “Secrets of the Gem Trade” by Richard W. Wise<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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2. Industry related Periodic magazines & journals: Rapaport, JCK, National Jewelers, Modern Jewelers, Gems & Gemology by GIA, newsletters of trade organizations such as JVC, NAJA, DDC, IDMA and more. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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3. TV DVDs: Sopranos, 24, 30 Rock<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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4. Movies: Avatar, GodFather movies, James Bond movies, Gladiator, 300<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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5. Books: many Holocause related books as I research and investigate many events that relate to the Holocaust as well as volunteer in Non for Profit organizations. I am against genocides of any kind and think that the world should learn from what happened in Nazi Germany so it never happens again to any nation. Some examples: books of award winning New York Times American author,Edwin Black, such as” IBM and the Holocaust”; The “Hitler of History” by John Lukacs; “Ethics and Extermination: Reflections on Nazi\u2026”<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

by Michael Burleigh<\/span><\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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6. Authors: Dan Brown, Edwin Black, Ram Oren<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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7. Music: wide range of music that include Israeli, Greek, Latin, American Rock and Pop, Classic, New Age Music<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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8. Favorite Bands & Singers: ColdPlay, Madonna, Depeche Mode, Mashina (Israeli Band), Ishtar of the Alabina band<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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9. Apple Computers and Steve Jobs<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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10. Peter Lik Fine Art Photography<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Credit goes to Diana Jarrett<\/a> for the pulling the information for this interview together and to Mindat<\/a> and NiceIce<\/a> for the photos of Diamond Rough.<\/span>
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