Five new representatives for the Handel Group (Trade Group) have been accepted by the Diamond High Council (HRD) board. The destiny of the HRD will be in the hands of Kurt Einhorn, Daniel Van Dievoet, Bahrat Shah, Daniel Horowitz, and Ziv Knoll. Consequently, the former representatives of the Handel Group, those who were not reelected, Chaim Pluczenik, Dilip Mehta, and Jacques Claes, have all resigned. Both Pluczenik and Mehta resigned earlier in the day, before the HRD board meeting got underway.

It was expected that André Gumuchdjian would have been among the five names, it turned out that he resigned from his position as president of the BVGD (the Polished Dealers Association,) leaving the seat to Van Dievoet. Although he is considered as the successful revolutionary at the origin of a critical change, some of his detractors dont see him as a man of consensus enough to allow him to siege at the HRD board.

Van Dievoet, new president of the BVGD said, "Im really sorry that Dilip Mehta resigned, especially when you know that he was in top position on the VHRD list of suggested representatives at the HRD. All I can say at this stage is that the vice president of the HRD will not be a DTC [Diamond Trading Company] sightholder. Indeed, our president, Jacky Rot, being already a sightholder, we consider that the two positions shouldnt be occupied by two sightholders at the same time,” added Dievoet.

The succession of Peter Meeus, as well as the approval of the triumvirate is set to be discussed during a next board meeting, scheduled in 12 days. But, its been confirmed that a certain number of people have been approached and resolution may be forthcoming ahead of the meeting. Although the general belief is that the new managing director of the HRD should not be an active diamantaire, so as to avoid conflicts of interest.