Asscher to Serve Extra Year as WDC Head

RAPAPORT... The World Diamond Council (WDC) has extended the term of its current officers for an additional year due to "unusual circumstances," it said Sunday.WDC bylaws state the term of its president lasts two years, after which the serving vice president automatically succeeds him or her. However, citing unforeseen circumstances during the 2020-to-2022 period, including the pandemic, the WDC has decided to lengthen current chief Edward Asscher's term through 2023. Vice president Feriel Zerouki and treasurer Ronnie VanderLinden will also retain their positions for an extra year. In 2024, Zerouki is set to become president, while the WDC will elect a new vice president from among its members."With the Kimberley Process [KP] suspending regular activities in 2020 because of Covid-19, meaning that the term of the current WDC leadership coincided with the term in office of one, rather than two KP chairs, the WDC board of directors agreed that in the present situation, it was appropriate to suspend the scheduled transition and election of new officers on an extraordinary basis until June 2023," the council said.Image: Edward Asscher (left); Feriel Zerouki (right). (World Diamond Council)