The World Diamond Council (WDC) today announced that Mr. Andrey Polyakov has assumed the elected position of President of the WDC. Mr. Polyakov served as Vice President of the WDC since 2015 and now succeeds Mr. Edward Asscher whose two-year term as President concluded on May 22, 2016.

Andrey Polyakov

The WDC is a collective of members representing the entire international diamond industry supply chain, from mining through retail. The group represents the diamond industry in the development and implementation of regulatory and voluntary systems developed by the United Nations and the Kimberley Process to eradicate the trade of conflict diamonds.

“I am honored to have been elected by my peers to this important position,” stated Mr. Polyakov. “I look forward to working closely with the Board of Directors and the membership of the WDC, on behalf of our great industry, through the WDC’s critical role of representing the industry at the Kimberley Process. I am confident that joint efforts and willingness to dialogue among all parties will enable us to achieve success in strengthening our industry’s reputation.”

The WDC represents the diamond industry at the UN-mandated Kimberley Process forum, the body created to eradicate conflict diamonds from entering the legitimate diamond supply chain. Conflict diamonds are rough diamonds used by rebel movements to finance wars against legitimate governments. The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) imposes extensive requirements on its members - diamond producing and trading countries - to prevent conflict diamonds from entering the legitimate trade.

As the most senior executive officer of the WDC, Mr. Polyakov’s role will be to continue the mission of the organization and to further protect the integrity and reputation of the Kimberley Process. His management and leadership approach is shaped by a belief in the responsible and ethical growth of the industry by reinstating the diamond as an emotional and uniquely symbolic brand. www.worlddiamondcouncil.org