The Board of Directors of HRD Antwerp, a subsidiary of the Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC), has appointed Paul De Wachter as its new CEO.
Bringing over twenty years of experience and a proven track record in the international diamond industry, De Wachter will assume the role in January 2026.
As CEO, he is tasked with strengthening HRD’s position as a reliable partner for the international diamond trade and leading the organization through a period of significant transformation.
Former CEO Ellen Joncheere, whose contract was not renewed, is stepping down, with Stanley De Belie appointed as interim CEO during the transition phase.
De Wachter began his career in the diamond sector in 2002 and rose to the position of Senior Relationship Manager at the Antwerp Diamond Bank. After a brief period at Channel Capital Advisors in a similar role, he joined the National Bank of Fujairah (NBF), where he has been active for more than seven years.
“I am very much looking forward to taking on this new challenge,” says Paul De Wachter. “I am fully aware of the amount of work that lies ahead, at a time when the international diamond industry is facing major challenges, including the rise of lab-grown diamonds. HRD needs a strong, clear vision and determined leadership to deliver on its role as a trusted partner for its clients. In my role as CEO, I will do everything I can to make that happen.”
Alex Shishlo, Editor in Chief of the European Bureau, Rough&Polished
