Policies & IssuesMay 11, 2023
Ethical Metalsmiths Appoints New PresidentPolicies & IssuesMay 17, 2023
Feriel Zerouki Becomes First Woman to Lead WDC
Zerouki took over as World Diamond Council president Monday, with Ronnie VanderLinden elected vice president.
De Beers Group executive Feriel Zerouki became president of the World Diamond Council on Monday and is slated to lead the organization in attending the Kimberley Process intersessional meeting in Zimbabwe next week.
New York—On Monday, Feriel Zerouki officially succeeded Edward Asscher as president of the World Diamond Council.
She is the first woman to hold the position.
Born in the United Arab Emirates and of Algerian descent, Zerouki started her career in the diamond industry in 2005, working as a supply chain analyst at De Beers’ Diamond Trading Co. (DTC).
In 2009, the company appointed her Best Practice Principles manager, overseeing ethical standards for De Beers, its sightholders and contractors.
Zerouki became head of international relations in 2014, helping to initiate Tracr, De Beers’ blockchain platform, and GemFair, the program that supports artisanal and small-scale miners and mining operations.
She is now De Beers’ senior vice president of corporate affairs and serves on the board of directors for the Responsible Jewellery Council and, most recently, joined the board of the Jewelers Vigilance Committee.
She holds degrees in mathematics and business management from Queen Mary University of London and is fluent in French, English and Arabic.
Zerouki was elected WDC vice president in 2020 and was set to become president in 2022 but the WDC’s directors opted to extend her term, and the terms of the other elected leaders, for another year due in part to the disruptions the COVID-19 pandemic caused.
Also on Monday, the WDC elected Ronnie VanderLinden vice president while Anoop Mehta was elected treasurer and Udi Sheintal was reappointed WDC secretary.
Per WDC bylaws, VanderLinden will take over as WDC president after Zerouki completes her two-year term.
Related stories will be right here …
She is the first woman to hold the position.
Born in the United Arab Emirates and of Algerian descent, Zerouki started her career in the diamond industry in 2005, working as a supply chain analyst at De Beers’ Diamond Trading Co. (DTC).
In 2009, the company appointed her Best Practice Principles manager, overseeing ethical standards for De Beers, its sightholders and contractors.
Zerouki became head of international relations in 2014, helping to initiate Tracr, De Beers’ blockchain platform, and GemFair, the program that supports artisanal and small-scale miners and mining operations.
She is now De Beers’ senior vice president of corporate affairs and serves on the board of directors for the Responsible Jewellery Council and, most recently, joined the board of the Jewelers Vigilance Committee.
She holds degrees in mathematics and business management from Queen Mary University of London and is fluent in French, English and Arabic.
Zerouki was elected WDC vice president in 2020 and was set to become president in 2022 but the WDC’s directors opted to extend her term, and the terms of the other elected leaders, for another year due in part to the disruptions the COVID-19 pandemic caused.
Also on Monday, the WDC elected Ronnie VanderLinden vice president while Anoop Mehta was elected treasurer and Udi Sheintal was reappointed WDC secretary.
Per WDC bylaws, VanderLinden will take over as WDC president after Zerouki completes her two-year term.
The WDC serves as the representative of the diamond industry in the Kimberley Process (KP).
Next week, Zerouki will lead the WDC’s delegation in attending the five-day KP intersessional meeting at Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe. (Zimbabwe is the KP chair nation this year and thereby hosts both the intersessional and plenary meetings.)
The meeting is slated to begin Sunday.
Zerouki said as WDC president, she is committed to following in Asscher’s footsteps by acting with honesty and decency while also protecting the integrity of diamonds.
“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,” she said.
During his time heading the WDC, Asscher, the retired former president of the Royal Asscher Diamond Company, was consistent in his calls for the KP to expand the definition of what constitutes a “conflict” diamond, an issue that’s been a debate among members of the KP for more than a decade.
This year, the KP will enter a Review and Reform cycle, which Zerouki said is of “critical importance” as members of the KP must address what the process needs to do to adapt to a “much-changed and fast-evolved landscape.”
Editors' Picks
Sponsored by
More on Policies & Issues
The Latest
MajorsJan 30, 2025
WJA Chapter Leaders Resign as Fallout From DEI Remarks SnowballsThe boards of at least five chapters have resigned in response to controversial statements the WJA national board president made last month.
CollectionsJan 30, 2025
Pharrell Williams Brings Tahitian Pearls to His New Tiffany & Co. CollectionFive new designs were added, all donning Tahitian cultured pearls and spear-like trident motifs, along with the new “Titan” setting.
Events & AwardsJan 30, 2025
Registration Open for Converge 2025The inaugural event is being co-hosted by the American Gem Society and the Gemological Institute of America.
Brought to you by
3 New Year’s Resolutions for Jewelry Lovers The new year feels like a clean slate, inspiring reflection, hope, and the motivation to become better versions of ourselves.
MajorsJan 30, 2025
24 Karat Club of New York Elects 5 New MembersJewelers of America’s Annie Doresca and AGTA CEO John W. Ford Sr. are among the new members.
Weekly QuizJan 30, 2025
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
CollectionsJan 29, 2025
Boucheron’s High Jewelry Takes the Form of ‘Untamed Nature’The jeweler’s latest high jewelry collection looks into the Boucheron archives to create a “living encyclopedia of high jewelry.”
FinancialsJan 29, 2025
LVMH Watch, Jewelry Sales End the Year DownWatch and jewelry sales slipped 3 percent in 2024, though the luxury conglomerate did see business pick up in the fourth quarter.
Brought to you by
A Diamond Is Forever Celebrates "Forever Present" Holiday CampaignA Diamond is Forever hosted a holiday celebration in honor of their new marketing campaign, ‘Forever Present.’
MajorsJan 29, 2025
Chanel Names New General Manager of Watches, Fine Jewelry for USOlivier Kessler-Gay will take over the role on March 3.
SurveysJan 29, 2025
Consumer Confidence Slips for Second Consecutive Month It hit a four-month low in January due to concerns about the job market, though consumers remain bullish about the stock market.
Events & AwardsJan 29, 2025
Chris Ploof To Teach Mokume Gane at AJSThe jewelry designer and master metalsmith will present on the ancient Japanese metalworking technique at the Atlanta Jewelry Show in March.
SourcingJan 28, 2025
WFDB Joins Efforts to Promote Natural Diamonds With New CampaignThe “Moments” social media campaign emphasizes the emotional ties between natural diamonds and life’s special milestones.
CollectionsJan 28, 2025
Bliss Lau Celebrates the Intricate Mosaic of Identity in New CollectionThe versatile “As We Are” collection features 14 pieces with interlocking designs allowing for 27 different looks worn around the body.
SourcingJan 28, 2025
Botswana’s First Olympic Gold Medalist Is Now a De Beers Ambassador Letsile Tebogo will help to promote natural diamonds and the good they have done for his country.
Events & AwardsJan 28, 2025
NouvelleBox Show Returns to New York CityThe showcase, in its second year, will feature more than 20 international brands at its curated event from Feb. 2-4.
Recorded WebinarsJan 28, 2025
Watch: Fine Jewelry Market Predictions for 2025 “My Next Question” guests Sherry Smith and Edahn Golan share their 2025 forecasts, from sales and marketing to what retailers should stock.
Events & AwardsJan 28, 2025
Here Is the 2025 AGTA GemFair Tucson Educational LineupThe seminar series covers topics from market trends and colored stone terminology to working with museums and growing an Instagram profile.
MajorsJan 27, 2025
Le Vian Corp. Chairman Larry LeVian, a Man of Faith and Family, Dies at 73 LeVian is remembered for his leadership in the jewelry industry and for being a selfless and compassionate person.
CrimeJan 27, 2025
New Jersey Jeweler Sentenced to 2 1/2 Years for Evading CustomsMonishkumar Kirankumar Doshi Shah pleaded guilty to evading customs on more than $13.5 million of jewelry imported into the U.S.
SourcingJan 27, 2025
Dev Shetty To Head New Auction House for Rare Colored GemsJemora Gemhouse’s inaugural auction, slated for March, will take place in Dubai and feature polished sapphires.
CollectionsJan 27, 2025
Rachel Quinn Embodies Feelings of Falling in Love in New CollectionQuinn partnered with Gemfields to create “Crazy Love,” which features Zambian emeralds and Mozambican rubies across 10 pieces.
MajorsJan 27, 2025
Arch Crown’s 2025 ‘Tag & Label’ Catalog Is Out Now The catalog is 48 pages and features more than 100 styles.
CollectionsJan 24, 2025
Piece of the Week: Ashley Zhang Jewelry’s Lunar New Year NecklaceThe one-of-a-kind necklace was designed in celebration of the Chinese New Year, as 2025 is the Year of the Snake.
SourcingJan 24, 2025
Ethical Gem Fair Heads Back to Tucson The gemstone show is slated to take place at the Scottish Rite Cathedral.
CrimeJan 23, 2025
4 Men Arrested After Allegedly Plotting to Kidnap JewelerThe suspects are accused of planning to kidnap a Miami jeweler and rob him of his cryptocurrency.
CrimeJan 23, 2025
Security Guard Killed in Armed Robbery at Namibian Diamond Co. Francis “Gosh” Eiseb, 58, was a senior protection officer for Namib Desert Diamonds, also known as Namdia, in Windhoek, Namibia.
SourcingJan 23, 2025
RapNet, AGTA Partner to Launch Gemstone Trading NetworkThe online diamond and jewelry marketplace has expanded, introducing a new platform dedicated to colored gemstone trading.
