Matthew A. Runci is President and CEO of Jewelers of America, the national trade association for retail jewelers. Since joining the association in 1995, his primary mission has been to enhance members’ business reputations and preserve consumers’ confidence in the purchase of jewelry. Under Runci’s leadership, Jewelers of America has developed comprehensive professional skills standards for retail jewelry sales associates, managers and bench jewelers. Runci has also guided the development of a variety of responsible business practice initiatives for use by Jewelers of America’s more than 11,000 member stores. In addition, he has directed an active national government affairs program on behalf of the interests of retail jewelers.

Runci was centrally involved in the establishment of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme, the Clean Diamond Trade Act, and the World Diamond Council’s System of Warranties, to prevent the trade in conflict diamonds. In 2005, he led Jewelers of America to become a founding member of the Council for Responsible Jewellery Practices (CRJP), which has created a Responsible Jewellery System for independent, third-party auditing of the ethical, social and environmental practices of companies at every level of the diamond and gold jewelry supply chain. Runci currently serves as Chairman of the CRJP Board of Directors.

Runci is also a member of the Board of Directors of Diamond Development Initiative, an organization aimed at addressing the political, social and economic challenges facing the artisanal diamond mining sector. He is an active participant in the Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance, a multi-stakeholder process that is working to develop mining standards for gold and other mined minerals.

Runci has been an active member of the jewelry industry for the past 28 years. Prior to his arrival at JA, he served as President and CEO of the Manufacturing Jewelers and Suppliers of America (MJSA). During his earlier career, Runci taught international relations at the university level. He holds a PhD from the University of Virginia and a BA from Boston College, as well membership in Phi Beta Kappa. He served in the U.S. Army from 1968-1970.