Lab-Grown

De Beers Group’s Element Six CEO Walter Huehn Departs

Lab-GrownDec 12, 2022

De Beers Group’s Element Six CEO Walter Huehn Departs

Element Six develops and produces synthetic diamond and tungsten carbide supermaterials.

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Walter Huehn, CEO of De Beers Group’s Element Six, will depart the company in early 2023.
London—After nearly a decade at the helm of De Beers Group’s Element Six, Walter Huehn is stepping down from his CEO role.

Element Six develops and produces synthetic diamond and tungsten carbide supermaterials.

Huehn joined the company in March 2013.

One of his most significant accomplishments was leading Element Six through the opening of the CVD synthetic diamond manufacturing facility for the production of lab-grown diamonds for Lightbox Jewelry.

He has recently led Element Six’s efforts to discover new applications for synthetic diamonds, like in quantum technology, De Beers said. 

“Walter has led Element Six with distinction for the best part of a decade and has continued to deliver excellent value, successfully guiding Element Six through its strategic journey, despite a range of global challenges to contend with. He is passionate about innovation, and about the potential for synthetic diamonds to provide novel solutions to some of the world’s most intractable problems,” noted De Beers Group CEO Bruce Cleaver.

“One of his most important legacies, however, is the outstanding team he has built at Element Six, which has a wealth of knowledge, expertise, and passion, as well as a clear vision of where the key opportunities for the business lie in the future. Synthetic diamonds have the potential to transform the world of technology, and Walter’s successor will work closely with the leadership team to ensure Element Six remains at the forefront of innovation in the advanced material solutions sector.”

De Beers is currently on the hunt for Huehn’s successor. 

He will continue in his role through Jan. 31. 

Element Six has manufacturing facilities in Germany, Ireland, South Africa, and the United Kingdom in addition to the United States. It explores the commercial uses of synthetic diamonds, in fields ranging from automotive to consumer electronics, cutting and drilling in the oil and gas industry, and even in acoustics and water treatment. 

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