Perles de Tahiti, the trade association in French Polynesia that promotes Tahitian cultured pearls, named Alfred Martin chairman during a recent board meeting at the association's headquarters.

Martin is chairman and general manager of Poe Rava Nui, one of the cultured pearl producer groups representing small and medium-sized pearl farmers in French Polynesia. He succeeds Robert Wan of Tahiti Perles.

Now that additional pearl producer groups have joined Perles de Tahiti, the association plans to appoint a new chairman every two years beginning with the recent appointment. The two new groups are Poe o Tahiti Nui (POTN) and the Association of Small and Medium Size Producers in French Polynesia (known by its French initials, SPMPPF). Like Poe Rava Nui, the two new groups also represent small and medium-sized pearl producers.