The Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC) announced the unexpected resignation of CEO Ari Epstein on Thursday, as reported by the AWDC’s board of directors.
While Epstein, who served as CEO for 13 years, declined to comment on the reason for his departure, Belgian financial newspaper De Tijd cited conflicts between the diamond sector and the Belgian government over Russian diamond sanctions as a possible cause.
The AWDC, Belgium’s primary diamond industry group, has not yet named Epstein’s successor.
The EU ban on Russian-origin diamonds, effective March 1, has imposed stringent requirements on the entry of rough and polished diamonds into the EU and G7 countries, necessitating documentation to verify non-Russian origin.
Antwerp’s diamond dealers have voiced concerns over prolonged and costly delays resulting from these sanctions.
