Zerouki Quits De Beers after 20 Years
October 12, 25
(IDEX Online) - Feriel Zerouki is to step down as De Beers' chief trade and industry officer after 20 years with the company.
She was appointed to the post in May of this year, after serving as senior vice president of corporate affairs.
She led the launch of Tracr, the blockchain-backed traceability platform, as well as GemFair, which provides artisanal miners, especially in Sierra Leone, with the technology to access it.
Zerouki will leave De Beers at the end of this month, De Beers said in a statement on Thursday (9 October).
She also serves as president of the World Diamond Council, after taking over from Edward Asscher in 2023, and becoming the first woman president in the WDC's 23-year history. She will remain in the role until the end of May 2026.
She said: "Being part of De Beers has been an extraordinary journey. I am immensely proud of what we have built together, and deeply grateful for the people and partnerships that have defined these 20 years. I leave with pride in our shared achievements and with excitement for what lies ahead."
She says she currently has "no plans" for her next professional move, though she intends to stay in the diamond industry.
Zerouki, (pictured) born in the United Arab Emirates, joined the diamond industry in 2005 as a supply chain analyst at De Beers' Diamond Trading Company.
Al Cook, CEO of De Beers Group, said: "Feriel has played a pivotal role in establishing and upholding the highest standards of integrity and provenance within De Beers and across the global diamond industry.
"Her strategic insight and leadership have contributed meaningfully to initiatives that will leave a lasting impact on the sector. We thank her for her contributions and wish her continued success as she embarks on the next chapter of her career."