Appointment
Ronnie VanderLinden Appointed WDC President, Anoop Mehta Named VP
VanderLinden Stressed That The WDC’s Role Is To Help Build Confidence In Natural Diamonds and Support The Trade Globally
The World Diamond Council (WDC) has appointed Ronnie VanderLinden as its new President and diamantaire Anoop Mehta, Convenor – Diamond Panel, GJEPC, as Vice President. VanderLinden succeeds Feriel Zerouki, who was named Honorary WDC President during the AGM.
Speaking at the WDC Annual General Meeting held on 7th May 2026 in Antwerp, Belgium, VanderLinden said:

“Global natural diamond industry must unite behind a clear and consistent narrative at a time of weaker demand, growing competition, and fragmented messaging. We must speak with one voice for natural diamonds.”
VanderLinden said, stressing that the WDC’s role is to help build confidence in natural diamonds and support the trade globally. VanderLinden emphasized that the industry needs to clearly communicate the value proposition of natural diamonds, particularly their contribution to producing nations and communities. According to him, provenance, responsible sourcing, and the positive socio-economic impact of diamond mining will remain central to the industry’s messaging strategy.
He also reaffirmed the importance of the Kimberley Process (KP) in safeguarding consumer confidence. VanderLinden said the WDC would continue efforts to update the definition of conflict diamonds so that it reflects the reality of today’s risks and strengthens confidence in natural diamonds.
Joining VanderLinden in the WDC leadership team is newly appointed Vice President Anoop Mehta, whom he described as “a pillar of both the Indian and global natural diamond trade.”
The AGM also saw David Bonaparte elected as Treasurer, while Udi Sheintal was re-elected as Secretary.
Appointment
CaratLane – A TATA Product Appoints Dhaval Raja As Chief Sales Officer
Dhaval Raja Joins CaratLane As Chief Sales Officer To Lead Sales Growth, Retail Expansion, and Customer Experience Transformation Across India.
CaratLane – A Tata Product, India’s leading omni-channel jewellery brand, has announced the appointment of Dhaval Raja as its Chief Sales Officer (CSO). In this role, Dhaval will lead the company’s sales function across channels and markets, driving business growth, retail excellence, customer experience transformation, and network expansion as CaratLane continues to strengthen its omni-channel presence across India.
Dhaval brings extensive experience in sales leadership, business expansion, and retail operations, having worked across leading consumer-facing organisations. Prior to joining CaratLane, he served as Chief Sales & Business Officer at Senco Gold & Diamonds, where he led the retail, online, corporate, and digital business verticals. During his tenure, the company witnessed significant transformation, expanding from a strong regional player into a nationally recognised jewellery brand while achieving rapid retail growth and a successful public listing.
Speaking on his appointment, Dhaval Raja, Chief Sales Officer, CaratLane, said:

“CaratLane has built a strong reputation for redefining the jewellery-buying experience through innovation, accessibility, and a customer-first approach. I look forward to working closely with the leadership team to strengthen sales excellence, expand our retail footprint, enhance customer experiences, and contribute to the brand’s next phase of growth.”
At CaratLane, Dhaval will be responsible for driving sales growth, accelerating new store expansion, strengthening retail execution, and leading customer experience transformation initiatives across the network. He will work closely with the leadership team to align sales strategy with the company’s long-term growth ambitions, while enhancing productivity and delivering consistent business performance across channels.
Over the course of his career, Dhaval has held leadership roles at Raymond Ltd., Raymond Apparel Ltd., and Aditya Birla Fashion & Retail Ltd., where he built expertise across sales, commercial strategy, channel management, and business operations. He has worked closely with cross-functional teams to drive market expansion, improve productivity, and build scalable operating structures that support sustainable business growth.
Known for his structured leadership style and strong execution orientation, Dhaval brings a sharp focus on building accountable, high-performing teams and fostering collaboration across functions. His ability to combine commercial insight with operational discipline has enabled organisations to scale efficiently while maintaining consistency in execution.
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