HRD Antwerp taps Paul De Wachter as ceo

Mumbai: HRD Antwerp has named Paul De Wachter as its new ceo, handing the reins to a diamond industry veteran at a moment of rapid change for the global gems trade.

Appointed by the board of directors of HRD Antwerp, a subsidiary of the Antwerp World Diamond Centre, De Wachter takes charge from January 5. His brief is clear: sharpen HRD’s role as a trusted certifier and steer the organisation through shifting consumer tastes, tighter scrutiny and the rise of lab-grown diamonds.

De Wachter brings more than two decades of experience across banking and diamonds. He began his career in 2002, rising to senior relationship manager at Antwerp Diamond Bank, before a stint at Channel Capital Advisors. He later joined the National Bank of Fujairah, where he spent over seven years, first as head of the Antwerp representative office and, from 2020, as head of the diamond unit—expanding the bank’s footprint and strengthening its standing in the sector.

“With his international experience, strong network and proven results, Paul is the right leader to take HRD Antwerp into the future,” said Bart De Hantsetters on behalf of the board.

For De Wachter, the timing is as challenging as it is opportune. “The diamond industry is at an inflection point,” he said, citing evolving consumer expectations and the growing presence of lab-grown stones. “HRD has a crucial role to play as a trusted partner, and I am fully committed to strengthening that position.”

Founded in 1973, HRD Antwerp is Europe’s leading authority in diamond grading, jewellery certification and education, drawing on centuries of Antwerp’s diamond-trading heritage. In India, the organisation has steadily expanded its footprint since opening a diamond grading laboratory in Mumbai in 2012, followed by jewellery certification in 2018. Today, HRD India operates from Mumbai’s Bandra Kurla Complex, with labs and drop-off points across SEEPZ, Surat, Delhi, Jaipur, Kolkata and Hyderabad.

As scrutiny intensifies and the market evolves, HRD Antwerp is betting on seasoned leadership. With De Wachter at the helm, the message is unmistakable: the world’s diamonds may be changing, but trust remains non-negotiable.