Kellie to Stand Down at Natural Diamond Council
July 09, 25
(IDEX Online) - David Kellie is to stand down as CEO of the Natural Diamond Council (NDC) after six years at the helm.
The announcement, made on his LinkedIn account, comes just weeks after the landmark Luanda Accord, that secures broader industry funding to promote natural diamonds.
African producers and other key stakeholders, meeting in the Angolan capital, pledged to contribute 1 per cent of their rough revenue to promote natural diamonds through the NDC.
In addition, Angola's state-owned diamond businesses - miner Endiama and trading company Sodiam - last week became NDC members and will jointly contribute $8m.
Kellie, (pictured) former head of US marketing at Watches of Switzerland Group, succeeded Jean-Marc Lieberherr in December 2019 as CEO of what was then the Diamond Producers Association.
Under his leadership it became the NDC in June 2020. Kellie led the organization's rebranding and strategic shift to appeal to younger consumers and promote the value of natural diamonds in the face of increasing competition from lab growns.
He managed the NDC through the Covid pandemic and during a period of budgetary challenges following the withdrawal of major contributor Alrosa due to sanctions on Russian diamonds.
Kellie said in the LinkedIn post announcing his retirement: "Following the successful signing of the Luanda Accord committing more diamond producers to provide funding support for the promotion of natural diamonds, I have advised our Board of Directors that I will be stepping down from my position at the Natural Diamond Council at the end of 2025."
As for his future plans, he said: "To enjoy a life of retirement, spending more time with friends and family, and traveling more. Unless something exciting tempts me to do otherwise!"