Our Team
The Board
Stephen Lussier – Chairman
De Beers
Stephen Lussier graduated with a BA (Honours) from Boston College in 1979 and received an MBA from Columbia University in New York in 1981.
After working for the New York advertising agency N.W. Ayer, Stephen joined De Beers in 1985 and was appointed Director the Consumer Marketing Division in 1993. He was given responsibility for External and Corporate Affairs on the De Beers Executive committee in 2005 and made Executive Vice president – Marketing at the De Beers Group in 2012. He was also appointed Director at the Diamond Trading Company (DTC) in 1995, joining the Executive Committee in 2002 and took up the role of Chief Executive Officer – Forevermark, in 2009. He became Chairman of the Natural Diamond Council in 2016. He has led the launch of many successful diamond product concepts including the 3-stone ring, tennis bracelet, solitaire necklace and ‘Journey’ diamond jewellery. More recently he has overseen the De Beers’ investment in De Beers Jewellers and has led the global expansion of Forevermark into 35 markets and over 1,750 retail doors.
Stephen Lussier – Chairman
De Beers
Stephen Lussier graduated with a BA (Honours) from Boston College in 1979 and received an MBA from Columbia University in New York in 1981.
After working for the New York advertising agency N.W. Ayer, Stephen joined De Beers in 1985 and was appointed Director the Consumer Marketing Division in 1993. He was given responsibility for External and Corporate Affairs on the De Beers Executive committee in 2005 and made Executive Vice president – Marketing at the De Beers Group in 2012. He was also appointed Director at the Diamond Trading Company (DTC) in 1995, joining the Executive Committee in 2002 and took up the role of Chief Executive Officer – Forevermark, in 2009. He became Chairman of the Natural Diamond Council in 2016. He has led the launch of many successful diamond product concepts including the 3-stone ring, tennis bracelet, solitaire necklace and ‘Journey’ diamond jewellery. More recently he has overseen the De Beers’ investment in De Beers Jewellers and has led the global expansion of Forevermark into 35 markets and over 1,750 retail doors.
David Prager
Executive VP & Chief Brand Officer
De Beers
David Prager
Executive VP & Chief Brand Officer
De Beers
Eira Thomas
Chief Executive Officer
Lucara Diamond Corp.
Eira Thomas is a Canadian geologist with over 25 years of experience in the Canadian mining business. She is the CEO of Lucara Diamond Corp. as well as an original founder of the company. Eira’s previous roles include CEO of Kaminak Gold Corporation, Vice President, Aber Resources, now Dominion Diamond Corp., and founder and CEO of Stornoway Diamond Corp. She was elected to Suncor’s Board of Directors in April 2006 and is the chair of the Environmental, Health, Safety & Sustainable Development (EHS&SD) Committee and a member of the Human Resources and Compensation Committee.
Eira Thomas
Chief Executive Officer
Lucara Diamond Corp.
Eira Thomas is a Canadian geologist with over 25 years of experience in the Canadian mining business. She is the CEO of Lucara Diamond Corp. as well as an original founder of the company. Eira’s previous roles include CEO of Kaminak Gold Corporation, Vice President, Aber Resources, now Dominion Diamond Corp., and founder and CEO of Stornoway Diamond Corp. She was elected to Suncor’s Board of Directors in April 2006 and is the chair of the Environmental, Health, Safety & Sustainable Development (EHS&SD) Committee and a member of the Human Resources and Compensation Committee.
Grant Flanagan
RZM Murowa
Grant Flanagan
RZM Murowa
Richard Duffy
Chief Executive Officer
Petra Diamonds Limited
Richard Duffy has 27 years of global mining industry experience, initially with Anglo American plc and then AngloGold Ashanti Limited, from its inception in 1998. In 2008, he was appointed Executive Vice President, Africa Region and continued in this role until January 2010 when he took charge of the Continental Africa Region, with operations in Namibia, Tanzania, Guinea, Ghana and Mali and a Joint Venture in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In 2013, he was appointed Chief Financial Officer with direct responsibility for all financial matters including the formulation and execution of financial business strategy, debt and equity financing. In 2015, Mr Duffy became a co-founder and director of Africa Energy Management Platform, a private energy company targeting industrial and mining clients in sub-Saharan Africa.
Mr Duffy holds a B. Com degree from the University of Witwatersrand and an MBA from Henley Management College in the UK.
Richard Duffy
Chief Executive Officer
Petra Diamonds Limited
Richard Duffy has 27 years of global mining industry experience, initially with Anglo American plc and then AngloGold Ashanti Limited, from its inception in 1998. In 2008, he was appointed Executive Vice President, Africa Region and continued in this role until January 2010 when he took charge of the Continental Africa Region, with operations in Namibia, Tanzania, Guinea, Ghana and Mali and a Joint Venture in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In 2013, he was appointed Chief Financial Officer with direct responsibility for all financial matters including the formulation and execution of financial business strategy, debt and equity financing. In 2015, Mr Duffy became a co-founder and director of Africa Energy Management Platform, a private energy company targeting industrial and mining clients in sub-Saharan Africa.
Mr Duffy holds a B. Com degree from the University of Witwatersrand and an MBA from Henley Management College in the UK.
Patrick Coppens
General Manager, Sales & Marketing
Rio Tinto (Diamonds)
Patrick Coppens
General Manager, Sales & Marketing
Rio Tinto (Diamonds)
Natural Diamond Council Executive Team
David Kellie
David Kellie has over 30 years’ experience in marketing esteemed consumer brands around the world. David joined the NDC from the Watches of Switzerland Group where he oversaw the marketing launch of the UK’s largest luxury timepiece retailer in to the US. Prior to that, he spent 15 years with Ralph Lauren initially in Geneva and later in New York where he led the global marketing and advertising teams across the full portfolio of brands and business. David joined the NDC in December 2019 and is based in New York.
David Kellie
David Kellie has over 30 years’ experience in marketing esteemed consumer brands around the world. David joined the NDC from the Watches of Switzerland Group where he oversaw the marketing launch of the UK’s largest luxury timepiece retailer in to the US. Prior to that, he spent 15 years with Ralph Lauren initially in Geneva and later in New York where he led the global marketing and advertising teams across the full portfolio of brands and business. David joined the NDC in December 2019 and is based in New York.
Katja Thoelen
Katja Thoelen is Chief Financial Officer of Natural Diamonds Council and responsible for managing finance, accounting, legal, tax and human resources. She has over 20 years of all-round experience, gained in medium-sized international companies active in several industries of which Xella, DME Europe, ITAB Shop Concept and British Petroleum Belgium.
Katja has a hands-on mentality combined with a strong objective and analytical approach to develop workable systems and solve problems. Reliability and integrity are important core values to her.
Katja Thoelen
Katja Thoelen is Chief Financial Officer of Natural Diamonds Council and responsible for managing finance, accounting, legal, tax and human resources. She has over 20 years of all-round experience, gained in medium-sized international companies active in several industries of which Xella, DME Europe, ITAB Shop Concept and British Petroleum Belgium.
Katja has a hands-on mentality combined with a strong objective and analytical approach to develop workable systems and solve problems. Reliability and integrity are important core values to her.
Kristina Buckley Kayel
Kristina Buckley Kayel is the Managing Director of the Natural Diamond Council’s North America. She is responsible for steering and implementing NDC’s marketing, communications and digital strategy, its research and insights activity, as well as supporting and partnering with retailers and trade organizations. Prior to NDC, Kristina led marketing and communications and, as a member of the Executive Committee, drove the corporate and brand strategy for the French high jewelry Maison, Van Cleef & Arpels (owned by Compagnie Financière Richemont SA).
Kristina Buckley Kayel
Kristina Buckley Kayel is the Managing Director of the Natural Diamond Council’s North America. She is responsible for steering and implementing NDC’s marketing, communications and digital strategy, its research and insights activity, as well as supporting and partnering with retailers and trade organizations. Prior to NDC, Kristina led marketing and communications and, as a member of the Executive Committee, drove the corporate and brand strategy for the French high jewelry Maison, Van Cleef & Arpels (owned by Compagnie Financière Richemont SA).
Mabel Wong McCormick
Mrs. Mabel Wong McCormick joined the Natural Diamond Council (NDC) in March 2018 as the Managing Director of NDC Greater China. She is responsible for all business development in Greater China and is instrumental in setting up the NDC China team.
Prior to joining NDC, Mrs. McCormick has more than 20 years of experience in luxury lifestyle brand marketing and senior management in Greater China and Asia. She was instrumental in establishing the LVMH Wines & Spirits marketing team and launching of its Prestige Brands in China; in 2006, she started up the Shanghai branch of an UK-based innovation consultancy company ?WHAT IF!; in 2008 established the marketing team of Rémy Cointreau in Greater China and acted as Marketing Director of Greater China and Managing Director of Taiwan Branch; In 2017, she led as COO to reposition and re-launch of a Wines & Spirits company in Myanmar.
Leveraging her understanding of the luxury lifestyle market and in-depth insights in Chinese millennial consumers, Mrs. McCormick is a seasoned leader in guiding the China team at NDC to deliver the new Diamond Dream for today’s Chinese consumers.
Mabel Wong McCormick
Mrs. Mabel Wong McCormick joined the Natural Diamond Council (NDC) in March 2018 as the Managing Director of NDC Greater China. She is responsible for all business development in Greater China and is instrumental in setting up the NDC China team.
Prior to joining NDC, Mrs. McCormick has more than 20 years of experience in luxury lifestyle brand marketing and senior management in Greater China and Asia. She was instrumental in establishing the LVMH Wines & Spirits marketing team and launching of its Prestige Brands in China; in 2006, she started up the Shanghai branch of an UK-based innovation consultancy company ?WHAT IF!; in 2008 established the marketing team of Rémy Cointreau in Greater China and acted as Marketing Director of Greater China and Managing Director of Taiwan Branch; In 2017, she led as COO to reposition and re-launch of a Wines & Spirits company in Myanmar.
Leveraging her understanding of the luxury lifestyle market and in-depth insights in Chinese millennial consumers, Mrs. McCormick is a seasoned leader in guiding the China team at NDC to deliver the new Diamond Dream for today’s Chinese consumers.
Raluca Anghel
Based in London, Raluca Anghel is responsible for the NDC’s global external engagement and public affairs, and also leads on communication and marketing in Europe.
Previously, Raluca worked in Brussels for 11 years where she coordinated Microsoft’s European storytelling agenda and then moved to the European Parliament to lead PR campaigns and develop policy in areas such as social affairs, SME growth, and technology. Her most recent role before NDC was Spokesperson for the Romanian Presidency of the EU Council. Raluca is a dynamic communicator with a strong collaborative style and a passion for sustainability!
Raluca Anghel
Based in London, Raluca Anghel is responsible for the NDC’s global external engagement and public affairs, and also leads on communication and marketing in Europe.
Previously, Raluca worked in Brussels for 11 years where she coordinated Microsoft’s European storytelling agenda and then moved to the European Parliament to lead PR campaigns and develop policy in areas such as social affairs, SME growth, and technology. Her most recent role before NDC was Spokesperson for the Romanian Presidency of the EU Council. Raluca is a dynamic communicator with a strong collaborative style and a passion for sustainability!
Richa Singh
Richa Singh is the Managing Director for the India operations. She is working with her team to infuse greater meaning into Natural Diamonds to create a stronger connect. A true marketing professional with 23 years of proven track record, her experience has helped her to hone her skills in insights mining, deeper consumer understanding, creating campaigns & digital marketing.In her last stint at L’Oreal she helped to scale up businesses and build brands across segments spanning beauty and luxury products. Her dream is to have every Indian woman own a natural diamond and cherish her unique, rare and precious natural diamond story, which she can pass down the generations.
Richa Singh
Richa Singh is the Managing Director for the India operations. She is working with her team to infuse greater meaning into Natural Diamonds to create a stronger connect. A true marketing professional with 23 years of proven track record, her experience has helped her to hone her skills in insights mining, deeper consumer understanding, creating campaigns & digital marketing.In her last stint at L’Oreal she helped to scale up businesses and build brands across segments spanning beauty and luxury products. Her dream is to have every Indian woman own a natural diamond and cherish her unique, rare and precious natural diamond story, which she can pass down the generations.
(March 4, 2022) The Board of Directors of the Natural Diamond Council has today
received ALROSA’s decision to suspend its membership. In suspending its membership,
ALROSA has stepped down from the Board and will cease all financial contributions.
NDC is a global organization whose members’ operations span six continents and more than
a dozen countries including Canada, South Africa, Botswana, and Australia.
Our mission is to enhance the world of natural diamond jewelry, in support of more than
10 million industry employees and their families around the world, and we
will be continuing to promote the industry alongside our many global partners.
As an organization, our thoughts remain with people impacted by the current geopolitical crisis.
US Media Contact, Elana Zajdman,
elana@naturaldiamonds.com
