Appointment
Paul De Wachter Appointed as CEO of HRD Antwerp
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 is to take charge as CEO from January 5, 2026. As CEO, he is tasked with strengthening HRD’s position as a reliable partner for the international diamond trade and leading the organisation through a period of significant transformation.
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. He started there as He ad of the Antwerp Representative Office, focusing on building a strong local client portfolio. Since 2020, he has served as Head of the Diamond Unit, where he expanded the bank’s brand and significantly strengthened its market position.
“With his extensive experience in the international diamond industry, his strong and relevant network, and the concrete results he has achieved as Head of the Diamond Unit at NBF, Paul convinced the Board that he is the right person to lead HRD Antwerp into the future,” says Bart De Hantsetters, on behalf of the Board of Directors.
“I am very much looking forward to taking on this new challenge at HRD Antwerp, especially at a time when the international diamond industry is facing major challenges — from shifting consumer expectations to the emergence of lab-grown diamonds. I am honoured by the trust the Board of Directors of HRD Antwerp has placed in me and am deeply committed to strengthening HRD’s role as a trusted partner to the industry,” says Paul De Wachter.
HRD Antwerp is Europe’s leading authority in diamond grading, jewellery grading, and education. HRD Antwerp draws upon 575 years of experience passed down through Antwerp’s diamond trade and strive for perfection by delivering the highest quality in all our products and services. In 2012, HRD Antwerp opened a diamond grading laboratory in Mumbai to serve local and international demand for diamond certification. This marked the company’s entry into India’s certification landscape. By 2018, HRD Antwerp expanded to offer Jewellery Certification in India, reflecting a broader certification portfolio beyond diamonds alone. HRD India, maintains its headquarters in Mumbai’s Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) with a dedicated diamond grading lab. The organization extends its jewellery grading labs and drop-off points for diamonds to key diamond & jewellery hubs including Mumbai’s Mega CFC in SEEPZ, Surat, Delhi, Jaipur, Kolkata,and Hyderabad.
Appointment
KISNA Appoints Nitin Naik as Chief Technology Officer to Drive Digital Innovation and Omnichannel Scale
Strengthening leadership to power retail expansion, digital commerce integration, and seamless online-offline growth across India
KISNA Diamond and Gold Jewellery, the flagship brand of the Hari Krishna Group, has announced the appointment of Nitin Naik as Chief Technology Officer (CTO). The appointment strengthens the brand’s leadership team as it accelerates retail expansion and omnichannel growth across India.
In his role, he will lead KISNA’s technology function across digital commerce, retail systems, supply chain integration and data infrastructure. He will work closely with business and operations teams to build scalable platforms, enhance customer experience and enable seamless online-offline operations.
He brings over 25 years of experience in enterprise technology, global delivery and cybersecurity. He has spent most of his career at Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), leading large transformation programs in multiple domains across global markets. Most recently, as Delivery Head – Cybersecurity, he led end-to-end cybersecurity service delivery for growth markets and global public sector and education clients, overseeing governance, financial performance and strategic client engagement.
Parag Shah, CEO, KISNA Diamond and Gold Jewellery, said, “KISNA is scaling rapidly across markets, formats and consumer segments. Technology will be central to sustaining this growth. From retail integration to omnichannel execution, we are building platforms that enable speed and consistency at scale. Nitin’s appointment strengthens our ability to drive this transformation with sharper focus.”
Nitin Naik, Chief Technology Officer, KISNA Diamond and Gold Jewellery, added, “The opportunity to build technology capabilities for a fast-scaling retail brand like KISNA is compelling. I look forward to enabling integrated platforms that support retail growth, partner ecosystems and seamless consumer journeys.”
The appointment comes amid strong growth momentum at KISNA. Over the past year, the brand has strengthened its leadership team with key appointments across finance and marketing, expanded its offline retail footprint across franchise and exclusive showroom formats, and scaled its Mumbai corporate office to support rising operational and network expansion.
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