Two esteemed individuals - Ari Epstein, CEO of the Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC), and Mark Jenkins, Group Company Secretary of Signet Jewelers Limited, were recently inducted by the Board of Directors of the World Diamond Council as new directors into its ranks.

The announcement was made at the WDC’s first meeting in 2011, when the WDC Board appointed Mr. Epstein in the seat vacated by Freddy J. Hanard, who retired as CEO of the AWDC at the end of 2010, and Mr. Jenkins to the seat vacated by Terry Burman, who will be retiring as Signet's Group CEO on January 29.

"I am delighted to welcome Ari and Mark to the Board of Directors, and am confident that they will contribute significantly to the WDC's mission," said Eli Izhakoff, President of the World Diamond Council. " Both Freddy and Terry were key participants, and head organizations that have supported WDC right from the very beginning. We wish them well, just as we wish their successors the best of luck as WDC directors", he added.

Following the acceptance of the two new directors, the Board of Directors approved the WDC President's nomination of Mr. Epstein as Vice President of the World Diamond Council. Mr. Epstein will serve in the position as did Mr. Hanard until his retirement.