Ronnie VanderLinden was appointed the new president of industry organisation the World Diamond Council (WDC) at its 2026 AGM, in Antwerp, Belgium on May 7, succeeding Feriel Zerouki.

Taking office at a time of weaker demand, increased competition and fragmented messaging, VanderLinden said the industry must align behind a clear and consistent position.

“We are here for one reason. To be a champion for the natural diamond trade. We must speak with one voice for natural diamonds. If we are not helping sell natural diamonds in a meaningful way, we are not doing our job.”

He called for the industry to align behind one clear message on what natural diamonds were and why they mattered.

That message needed to be demonstrated by the role natural diamonds played in producing countries, he averred.

VanderLinden emphasised that the organisation must clear a path for the diamond trade, removing obstacles that make it harder to operate and compete.

“The case for natural diamonds is strong. But it has to be demonstrated. Where they come from, how they move through the pipeline and what they do in producing countries is the evidence we need to show.”

He also reaffirmed the central role of the Kimberley Process, positioning it as a mechanism to support confidence in natural diamonds.

The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme is the process established to prevent conflict diamonds from entering the mainstream rough diamond market.

“We will continue the work to update the conflict diamond definition, so it reflects the reality of today’s risks and strengthens confidence in natural diamonds,” VanderLinden said.

“This presidency will be judged in a very simple way. Not by what we say in meetings, but by what happens in the trade,” he added.

VanderLinden will serve alongside newly appointed VP Anoop Mehta, whom he described as “a pillar of both the Indian and global natural diamond trade”.

“I could not ask for a better second in command. Anoop’s experience, leadership and deep connections across the industry will be extremely important as we continue this work together,” he said.

During the AGM, David Bonaparte was elected WDC treasurer and Udi Sheintal was re-elected as WDC secretary.

As a special gesture proposed by the new president, Zerouki was elected honorary WDC president.