Ray Simpson Bio

Ray Simpson is a Partner of POP Capital. Ray has over 20 years of experience in the diamond and luxury goods industry. In 2003, Ray joined Aber Diamond Corporation), then a junior diamond mining company listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange, to head their strategic expansion into retailing. This initiative resulted in the purchase of the iconic jeweller Harry Winston in 2004 with Ray assuming the role of Chief Operating Officer. In 2007, Aber dual-listed on the New York Stock Exchange re-naming the whole mining and retail company Harry Winston Diamond Corporation. In 2011 Ray developed Diamond Asset Advisors (AG) in partnership with alternative asset managers in Zurich. The company is a specialized investment advisory and management company that combines an extensive skillset and network in the diamond and jewelry industry with a broad expertise in alternative investment operations, and it has developed diamond based alternative investment structures for institutional and other qualified investors. Ray started his career with diamond giant De Beers in London where he held a variety of positions over a 14 year period, and as Head of Business Development, was instrumental in establishing a retail joint venture between De Beers and leading luxury group LVMH Moet Hennessey in 2000. Ray joined LVMH as Director of Operations for the new venture overseeing the development of the company’s production, logistics and information systems. Ray has a Sloan Fellowship Masters degree from London Business School and a B.Sc. in Mathematics from Bristol University.