At the most recent WDC board meeting held in London, longtime diamond industry advocate and former Senior VP of Corporate Affairs at De Beers Group Feriel Zerouki has been named the new President of the World Diamond Council (WDC). Zerouki previously served as Vice President of the WDC for three years, now replacing Edward Asscher for the role of President.
Her affiliation with the WDC began in 2014 when she assumed the position of Head of International Relations at De Beers. During such time, she was instrumental in spearheading Tracr, an initiative aimed at providing traceability and provenance for the diamond sector. Additionally, she championed GemFair, a program designed to support the formalization of the artisanal diamond mining sector, ensuring fair value for miners’ diamonds. She also serves on the Board of Directors of the Responsible Jewellery Council and recently joined the Board of the Jewelers Vigilance Committee.
Zerouki saluted the outgoing WDC President, stating, “Edward has served the WDC with distinction, dutifully representing the interests of our members and diverse stakeholders during a period in which the industry has navigated unprecedented events.” She later added, “I am committed to upholding these principles and in particular Edward’s consistent call not to leave anyone behind, which will remain a foundational principle of the WDC.”
Zerouki outlined her vision for the WDC, highlighting its potential to unite stakeholders within the Kimberley Process. Her first official engagement as WDC President will be leading the WDC delegation at the upcoming five-day 2023 Kimberley Process Intersessional meeting, scheduled for May 21st at Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe.
Source: GJEPC
Photo Credit: GJEPC
