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.