New York: The Jewelers Vigilance Committee (JVC) has appointed Tiffany Stevens as its new president and CEO. She succeeds current president and CEO Cecilia Gardner, who served in this position for 18 years. Stevens will begin on March 6.

Stevens is an industry outsider, as Gardner was when she started. She recently served as chief operating officer at the Sohn Conference Foundation, which funds pediatric cancer research and medical fellowships. She has previously held leadership roles at nonprofits and foundations focused on the environment, education, and the arts. She began her career as a lawyer at Paul Hastings, then moved to an in-house role at Bear Sterns. She is currently an active board member of several not-for-profit organizations.

“The search process [for our new president and CEO] was extensive,” said Steven Kaiser, JVC board chairman, in a statement. “Ms. Stevens’ combined experience as a lawyer and a not-for-profit executive ensures her success [in] one of the most important leadership positions in our industry.”