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Edward Asscher to Remain WDC President for Another Year
The organization also extended the terms of Vice President Feriel Zerouki and Treasurer Ronnie VanderLinden.
From left, World Diamond Council Vice President Feriel Zerouki, President Edward Asscher, and Treasurer Ronnie VanderLinden will remain in office for another year due to the “unusual circumstances” brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo courtesy of the World Diamond Council)
New York—Longtime diamantaire Edward Asscher will remain president of the World Diamond Council for another year, the organization announced Sunday.
Meeting via video conference last week, the WDC’s board of directors opted to extend Asscher’s term along with the terms of Vice President Feriel Zerouki and Treasurer Ronnie VanderLinden until mid-2023.
Under WDC bylaws, the president serves one two-year term, after which the serving vice president automatically takes over.
Asscher was elected in mid-2020, meaning his second year would be up now.
Zerouki would succeed him and become the first female president of the WDC, which serves as the diamond and jewelry industry’s official representative in the Kimberley Process.
In making the decision to extend its leaders’ terms, WDC cited the “unusual set of circumstances currently prevalent,” specifically the disruption COVID-19 caused in the functioning of the Kimberley Process.
The diamond industry is also grappling with the ongoing sanctions placed on Russian diamonds, which represent about 30 percent of the world’s supply.
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Meeting via video conference last week, the WDC’s board of directors opted to extend Asscher’s term along with the terms of Vice President Feriel Zerouki and Treasurer Ronnie VanderLinden until mid-2023.
Under WDC bylaws, the president serves one two-year term, after which the serving vice president automatically takes over.
Asscher was elected in mid-2020, meaning his second year would be up now.
Zerouki would succeed him and become the first female president of the WDC, which serves as the diamond and jewelry industry’s official representative in the Kimberley Process.
In making the decision to extend its leaders’ terms, WDC cited the “unusual set of circumstances currently prevalent,” specifically the disruption COVID-19 caused in the functioning of the Kimberley Process.
The diamond industry is also grappling with the ongoing sanctions placed on Russian diamonds, which represent about 30 percent of the world’s supply.
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