Sawade, who held the marketing manager role with South Australian-based Peter W Beck for almost 10 years, advised industry colleagues of her decision to leave the company via an email on 17 October.
“I wanted to reach out to each and every one of you and thank you,” she wrote in the email. “I have loved my time at Peter W Beck and am grateful to have met you all and [worked] with you in some way or another.”
The email also stated that her last day of employment at Peter W Beck was Friday 21 October.
The Jewellers Association of Australia (JAA) released a statement on Tuesday 25 October confirming that Sawade’s resignation from Peter W Beck meant she would have to stand down from her role on the JAA board. While not specifically mentioned in the media release, Sawade was appointed JAA vice president in January 2016.
“The JAA was saddened to hear of Laura Sawade’s departure from her role as marketing manager for Peter W Beck Pty Ltd,” the statement read. “This has necessitated her standing down from the board given that her position on the NIAC [National Industry Advisory Council] as Supplier Representative must now be vacated.”
The release went on to state that the JAA and board had “the utmost respect for Ms Sawade and the work she has done for the industry".
Background reading: JAA’s fall from grace; TIMELINE: Tracking a Decade of Division
It added: “We acknowledge and highly appreciate her dedication and assistance in planning the future of the jewellery industry through all her efforts on the board.”
The JAA now has two vacancies following Colin Pocklington’s resignation as a director last month.
Motives for leaving
The reasons behind Sawade’s decision to leave Peter W Beck, and subsequently the JAA board, have not been revealed; however, as previously reported by Jeweller, her two roles may have caused potential conflicts of interest.
Namely, these included her name on a JAA media statement about former JAA director and managing director of buying group Nationwide Jewellers, Colin Pocklington; and her involvement in the development and promotion of the JAA Jewellery Tradeshow.
Sawade’s position was arguably complex given Peter W Beck had exhibited with Expertise Events for 25 years and, therefore, when asked by Jeweller earlier this month she was unable to rule out the possibility of the supplier continuing to support the Darling Harbour event even though the JAA had launched a competing fair.
At the time, Sawade explained that she often wore two ‘hats’ – one for the JAA and another for Peter W Beck.
When wearing her JAA hat Sawade said she worked with the industry in mind and when wearing her Peter W Beck hat she worked with the supplier in mind. “The two things are very separate,” she added.
Sawade commenced her involvement with the JAA as a SA/NT branch committee member in 2011.
More reading:
JAA’s perfect storm: Nationwide quits association
More industry division over two jewellery fairs
Nationwide, Leading Edge make 2017 jewellery fair decision
Sydney jewellery fair organiser hits back at JAA