The World Diamond Council (WDC) has confirmed that Feriel Zerouki is the organisation’s new president, assuming the role after serving as vice president to Edward Asscher for three years.
Zerouki joined the diamond industry in 2005 as a supply chain analyst at the De Beers Diamond Trading Company.
She began working with the WDC for the first time in 2014 while working at De Beers as head of international relations.
Zerouki said she hoped to build on Asscher’s previous accomplishments during her tenure.
“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 said.
“His determination to always act with probity while also protecting the integrity of diamonds and the diamond value chain has been a personal inspiration to me.”
She 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 will lead the WDC delegation at the five-day 2023 Kimberley Process intersessional meeting beginning 21 May in Zimbabwe.
Asscher recently replied to public criticism of the initiative and Zerouki said that the success of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme was vital to the future of the trade.
“We all – participants and observers – have a vested interest in the success of the KP and the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme, and in ensuring that they are provided the scope and the means to protect the diamond distribution chain moving forward,” she said.
“The current KP Review and Reform cycle, in which WDC is deeply involved, is of critical importance, for it addresses directly what needs to be done to position the KP effectively in a much-changed and fast-evolving landscape.”
During her time with De Beers, Zerouki was involved in the tracr projectas well as the GemFair program which aims to support the artisanal diamond mining sector.
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