Appoinment
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.
Appoinment
De Beers Names Mallikarjuna Reddy Yarabolu as MD of Forevermark India
Appointment signals accelerated retail expansion as India emerges as a key growth market for natural diamond jewellery
De Beers Group has appointed Mallikarjuna Reddy Yarabolu as Managing Director of Forevermark India, effective January 2026, reinforcing its strategy to expand the brand’s footprint in one of the world’s fastest-growing natural diamond jewellery markets.
Mallikarjuna brings over 20 years of leadership experience spanning fashion, luxury, FMCG and organised retail. He most recently served as Chief Revenue Officer at Arvind Fashions Limited, where he drove sales and revenue strategies for leading brands such as U.S. Polo Assn., Arrow and Flying Machine. Announcing his departure on LinkedIn, he credited the leadership team for the opportunity to help stabilise and transform the business.
Earlier, he spent six years at Nestlé India, heading food service and retail formats including Maggi Hotspots, KitKat Break Zones, Milk Booths and Nescafé kiosks, managing a nationwide network of over 750 outlets. His career also includes senior roles at Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Ltd. (Peter England), Walmart India and Godrej Agrovet.
The appointment comes as De Beers scales Forevermark’s presence in India, now the world’s second-largest market for natural diamond jewellery. Having transitioned from a loose diamond offering to a branded jewellery retail model, Forevermark plans to expand to 100 outlets by 2030.
With rising consumer incomes, increasing premiumisation and rapid growth of organised retail, India is expected to play a pivotal role in the future of natural diamonds. Yarabolu’s expertise in channel expansion and retail-led growth is set to support Forevermark’s next phase of growth in the country.
De Beers Names Mallikarjuna Reddy Yarabolu as MD of Forevermark India
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