Antwerp: The World Diamond Council (WDC) announced that Andrey Polyakov has assumed the elected position of president, succeeding Edward Asscher whose two-year term concluded on Sunday.

Polyakov has held the position of vice president of the WDC since 2015 and ALROSA vice president responsible for client policy and international cooperation since 2013. He has been involved with the Russian miner since 2004, and was instrumental in the creation of the Diamond Producers Association (DPA) – and now a founding member of its board.

Polyakov’s role as the most senior executive officer of the WDC will be to continue the organization’s mission and further protect the integrity and reputation of the Kimberley Process.

Outgoing WDC president Asscher said that much had been accomplished in his two-year tenure, including the passing of the first strategic plan in the council’s history. He also reiterated the importance of the WDC’s role in defending and upholding the Kimberley Process.

The WDC is a collective of members representing the entire international diamond industry supply chain, from mining through retail. The group represents the diamond industry in the development and implementation of regulatory and voluntary systems developed by the United Nations and the Kimberley Process to eradicate the trade of conflict diamonds.

Polyakov was elected vice-president of the council in October. The executive will work on the development of the WDC and strengthen its role in the Kimberley Process.