Ronnie VanderLinden Elected New President of World Diamond Council

Ronnie VanderLinden has been elected the new president of the World Diamond Council (WDC), the industry organization representing the natural diamond trade within the Kimberley Process. He succeeds Feriel Zerouki, who served as president since 2023 and was the WDC’s first female leader.

Vanderlinden, owner of Diamex Inc. and a seasoned figure in the diamond industry, officially took office following the WDC’s annual general meeting held in Antwerp, Belgium. He previously served as vice president of the WDC for three years.

Championing Natural Diamonds

Speaking at the AGM, Vanderlinden outlined his core objectives for his presidency. He stated his primary mission is to act as a ‘champion for the natural diamond trade’, focusing on building confidence in natural diamonds and actively assisting the trade in selling them.

“We are here for one reason. To be a champion for the natural diamond trade,” Vanderlinden declared. “We must speak with one voice for natural diamonds. If we are not helping sell natural diamonds in a meaningful way, we are not doing our job.”

He emphasized the need for the industry to coalesce around a single, consistent message about natural diamonds. This message, he explained, must clearly articulate what natural diamonds are, their origins, and the positive impact they have on the people and communities in producing countries. “The case for natural diamonds is strong, but it has to be demonstrated,” Vanderlinden said. “Where they come from, how they move through the pipeline, and what they do in producing countries is the evidence we need to show.”

Continuing Key Initiatives

Vanderlinden also reaffirmed the critical role of the Kimberley Process (KP) in bolstering confidence in natural diamonds. He committed to continuing the work initiated by his predecessor, Feriel Zerouki, to update the definition of a “conflict diamond” to better reflect contemporary risks and enhance consumer trust.

“Feriel Zerouki and the team brought this issue to the forefront. That work matters. We now must finish the job,” he stated, acknowledging Zerouki’s efforts in bringing the need for definition updates to the industry’s attention.

New Leadership Team

In addition to electing Vanderlinden as president, the WDC AGM saw the selection of other key leadership positions. Anoop Mehta was elected as the new vice president. Vanderlinden described Mehta, who also holds significant roles such as chairman and managing director of Mohit Diamonds and president of the Bharat Diamond Bourse, as “a pillar of both the Indian and global natural diamond trade.”

David Bonaparte was elected as treasurer, and Udi Sheintal was re-elected as secretary.

In a special gesture proposed by Vanderlinden, Feriel Zerouki was named Honorary WDC President in recognition of her service and contributions to the organization.

Vanderlinden concluded by stating that the success of his presidency will be measured by tangible outcomes within the trade, rather than just words spoken in meetings.