WDC Names Ronnie Vanderlinden as President

Ronnie Vanderlinden will succeed Feriel Zerouki as president of the World Diamond Council (WDC).

The organization elected Vanderlinden at its May 7 annual general meeting (AGM) in Antwerp, it said last week. He held the position of vice president for three years.

“We are here for one reason. To be a champion for the natural-diamond trade,” said Vanderlinden. “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.”

Vanderlinden is president of Diamex, the diamond-manufacturing company he founded in 1990, and he became president of the International Diamond Manufacturers Association (IDMA) in 2016. He will work alongside newly appointed vice president Anoop Mehta. Mehta also serves as chairman and managing director of Mohit Diamonds and as president of the Bharat Diamond Bourse (BDB). 

During the meeting, the board elected David Bonaparte as treasurer, and reelected Udi Sheintal as secretary. The council also named Zerouki as honorary president in a special gesture the new president proposed.

Image: Ronnie Vanderlinden (left) and Feriel Zerouki (right). (World Diamond Council)