Key takeaways
• Ronnie VanderLinden succeeded Feriel Zerouki as the President of the World Diamond Council (WDC) during the 2026 Annual General Meeting in Antwerp.
• The new leadership’s primary objective is to build consumer confidence and champion the natural diamond trade through a clear, unified industry message.
• The WDC reaffirmed its commitment to the Kimberley Process and plans to update the definition of conflict diamonds to address modern supply chain risks.
(ANTWERP, NEW YORK) – The World Diamond Council is a champion for the natural diamond trade, with the primary objective of building confidence in natural diamonds and helping the trade sell them, according to its incoming President Ronnie VanderLinden.
He was speaking at the WDC’s Annual General Meeting, held on May 7, 2026, in Antwerp, Belgium.
Taking office at a time of weaker demand, increased competition, and fragmented messaging, VanderLinden said the industry must align behind a clear and consistent position.
“We are here for one reason. To be a champion for the natural diamond trade,” he said. “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.”
His approach is direct.
The industry must align on a clear message about what natural diamonds are and why they matter.
That message needs to be demonstrated by the role natural diamonds play in producing countries.
And the World Diamond Council must clear a path for the trade, removing the obstacles that make it harder to operate and compete.
“The case for natural diamonds is strong,” VanderLinden said. “But it has to be demonstrated. Where they come from, how they move through the pipeline, and what they do in producing countries is the evidence we need to show.”
He also reaffirmed the central role of the Kimberley Process, positioning it as a mechanism to support confidence in natural diamonds.
“We will continue the work to update the conflict diamond definition, so it reflects the reality of today’s risks and strengthens confidence in natural diamonds,” he said. “Feriel Zerouki and the team brought this issue to the forefront. That work matters. We now must finish the job.”
VanderLinden will serve alongside newly appointed Vice President Anoop Mehta, whom he described as “a pillar of both the Indian and global natural diamond trade.”
“I could not ask for a better second in command,” VanderLinden said. “Anoop’s experience, leadership, and deep connections across the industry will be extremely important as we continue this work together.”
During the AGM, David Bonaparte was elected as WDC Treasurer, and Udi Sheintal was re-elected as WDC Secretary. As a special gesture proposed by the new president, Feriel. Zerouki was elected as Honorary WDC President.
“This presidency will be judged in a very simple way,” VanderLinden added. “Not by what we say in meetings, but by what happens in the trade.”
CONTACT
For media inquiries, please contact: James Doran
james@worlddiamondcouncil.org
About the World Diamond Council
The World Diamond Council (WDC) is an industry organization focused on preventing conflict diamonds from entering the global supply chain and preserving the value of natural diamonds. Formed in 2000, it is the only organization that represents the diamond trade in full, from producer to retailer. It includes the most influential commercial businesses, not-for-profit organizations, and individual companies in the industry today. The WDC is the voice of the international diamond industry in a tripartite collaboration with governments and civil society known as the Kimberley Process (KP). The KP secures and manages monitoring processes that have virtually eliminated the trade in conflict diamonds, ensuring that the world’s supply of diamonds comes from sources free of conflict. Visit www.worlddiamondcouncil.org to learn more.
