Meet the Visionaries
Behind the Brilliance
Driven by passion, guided by expertise, and united by a shared vision, our team redefines the art of luxury.
From curators to creators, each member brings unparalleled dedication and innovation to every facet of our journey.
Together, we craft a legacy that celebrates rarity, artistry, and the extraordinary.
THE TEAM
DEV SHETTY
Founder and CEO
Dev Shetty is a highly accomplished business leader and entrepreneur in the mining and coloured gemstones industry, with over two decades of experience driving successful turnarounds and growth for major mining companies.
In 2024, Dev founded Gaston Group, a UAE-headquartered business group that specialises in identifying high-potential undervalued assets, mainly in the energy transition metals mining, precious metals, and precious gemstones sectors.
As the founder and CEO of Fura Gems Inc., Dev have transformed the company from a single-person operation into a global leader in coloured gemstones, employing over 1,600 people and overseeing the mining of emeralds, rubies, and sapphires across Colombia, Mozambique, and Australia.
Previously, as a COO and Board Member at Gemfields, Dev played a pivotal role in turning the company from a loss-making entity into the world’s largest coloured gemstone mining company, achieving a market cap of USD 500 million during his tenure.
In addition to expertise in mining operations, Dev has made significant strides in marketing and brand building for the coloured gemstones sector, collaborating with renowned manufacturers, luxury brands, and gemstone laboratories to enhance the industry’s visibility and sustainability. Dev has also driven innovation with initiatives such as the mine-to-market program for origin-certified pink sapphires and blockchain-based provenance solutions.
Dev has also been part of a private equity house and has been instrumental in acquiring manganese, platinum and lithium mines. In 2024, Dev was awarded as an ICON of UAE Award, 2024.
Dev is a qualified Chartered Accountant from India (2003).
YOGITA VICHARE
Operations
Yogita Vichare is a seasoned professional with over 20 years of experience spanning the gemstones and financial sectors. As Managing Director at Gaston Group, Yogita plays a pivotal role in shaping the organisation’s strategic direction, overseeing critical investments, mining projects, and driving branding and market expansion. She has been recognized as one of the “Global Inspirational Women in Mining” (WIM100) in 2022 and received the “Inspirational Woman in Mining (UAE)” award at the 2024 Retail Jeweller World Dubai Forum.
Prior to Gaston Group, Yogita was a Senior Management Team member (Chief Strategy Officer) of coloured gemstones mining company, Fura Gems Inc.
Before gemstones, Yogita built a decade-long career in the financial sector in London, working with prestigious institutions such as Goldman Sachs, RBS, and Barclays Capital. With expertise in banking regulations, compliance, and risk management, she specialized in credit, market, and operational risk, liaising with regulatory bodies like the FCA and PRA to ensure financial institutions met stringent compliance standards.
Yogita holds a Master’s in Business Administration from the UK (2007) and is a qualified Chartered Accountant from India (2005).
NAJAH SANOON
Product and Gemology
Najah Sanoon is a gemologist and business development expert with a strong background in the gemstone mining industry. Over the years, he has developed a reputation for his meticulous approach to grading, sorting, and auctioning rough colored gemstones, including Emeralds, Rubies, and Sapphires.
His prior assignments include serving as the Product Director at Fura Gems and as a Senior Product Manager at Gemfields, where he led high-impact projects and strong market strategies.
With hands-on experience in managing sorting facilities across Colombia, Mozambique, and Australia, Najah has played a key role in optimizing operations and establishing efficient systems for the gemstone industry. His collaboration with sales teams on high-profile auctions has contributed to the successful placement of premium-quality gemstones in global markets.
Certified by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) and holding a degree in Business Information Technology from the UK, Najah combines technical expertise with business acumen. He has held leadership roles across diverse industries, including information technology and gemstone mining, working in Sri Lanka and the UAE.
HAYLEY A. HENNING
Communications and Marketing
Hayley Henning is a seasoned business development, branding, and marketing professional in the colored gemstone industry, with nearly three decades of experience. Her passion for gemstones, which began early in her career, has allowed her to build a reputation grounded in responsible sourcing, sustainability, and a deep understanding of the mine-to-market journey, as well as the market trends shaping the industry. Throughout her career, Hayley has collaborated with leading jewelers, designers, and collectors to bring exceptional colored gemstones to the global market, blending artistry with precise gemological knowledge.
Whether working with rare and precious gems from East Africa, icy rubies and pink sapphires from Greenland, or unique sapphires from Sri Lanka, Hayley combines a discerning eye with a wealth of industry knowledge in every facet of the colored gemstone sector. Her ability to connect gemstones with their origins, people, and places—and develop creative strategies to share these stories—has earned her the trust of discerning clients worldwide.
Beyond the inherent beauty of rare jewels, Hayley is deeply concerned about the communities where gemstones are sourced. She is dedicated to helping clients achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s) set by the United Nations and serves as Board Chair for Gems Keep Giving, a not-for-profit charity supporting communities involved in artisanal mining and gem cutting worldwide.
In addition, Ms. Henning is the co-author of Tanzanite: Born from Lightning, a 2016 coffee table book published with Didier Brodbeck and Art Director Icaro Carlos.
ROBERT WAKE-WALKER
Legal and Commericial
Robert Wake-Walker is an experienced financial strategist and legal consultant across the gemstone and mining industries for Gaston International. In addition to his expertise in the international diamond markets, Robert’s consultancy practice has delivered corporate finance and M&A services, equity and debt structuring and strategic services to a range of mining companies, institutional banks, structured credit funds, hedge funds and downstream ventures across the precious metals and gemstone sectors.
Robert also advises on marketing, legal risk and compliance polices and ESG strategies throughout the market pipeline. Robert is a member of the renowned WWW International Diamond Consultants, an independent diamond valuation, strategy and consultancy firm.
Prior to operating in the gemstone and mining sector, Robert was a lawyer with White & Case LLP for over seven years. Based in London and in Hong Kong, Robert has advised on a range of leveraged buyouts, disposals, restructurings and debt finance matters for Private Equity funds, public companies and credit institutions.
Robert qualified as a licensed Solicitor of the courts of England and Wales in 2017.
GABBI HARVEY
Business Development
With over three decades of deep involvement in the gemstone, mining, and luxury sectors, Gabbi has refined her business development skills through executive leadership roles at three of the industry’s most renowned colored gemstone mining companies: Muzo Emerald Colombia, Gemfields, and Tanzanite One.
Her expertise spans auction platforms and includes a profound understanding of the product journey from mine to market. Gabbi’s career is characterized by a steadfast commitment to ethical practices and a sharp awareness of industry dynamics. She has been at the forefront of pioneering traceability innovations, driving strategic growth, and cultivating lasting relationships within the global luxury market.