Appoinment
Paul De Wachter Appointed New 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 will assume the role in January 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. Former CEO Ellen Joncheere, whose contract was not renewed, is stepping down, with Stanley De Belie appointed as interim CEO during the transition phase.
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 Head 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.
The Board of Directors of HRD Antwerp has expressed full confidence in the new CEO. “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 us that he is the right person to lead HRD Antwerp into the future,” said Bart De Hantsetters, on behalf of the Board of Directors.
The Board also extended its thanks to Ellen Joncheere, who is stepping down after a little more than five years as CEO of HRD Antwerp, for her dedication and service.
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.
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