David Kellie, CEO of the Natural Diamond Council (NDC), announced he is retiring at the end of 2025 in a post on LinkedIn on July 6. 

In the post, Kellie said, “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.”

He added that he remained committed to the mission of the NDC through the remainder of the year, including the onboarding of new members and the launch of a successful new campaign in the fourth quarter.

Kellie joined the organisation in December 2019, leading it through its rebranding from the Diamond Producers Association to NDC. He steered it through the Covid-19 pandemic, funding shortfalls when sanctions against Russian diamonds led to Alrosa’s departure from the NDC, and heightened competition from lab-grown diamonds after the pandemic, among other challenges.

He implemented fresh campaigns revolving around diamond-producing countries, retailer outreach programmes and social channels, while relentlessly seeking additional funding from industry players for more impactful category marketing efforts – an endeavour that finally garnered sufficient industry support during the Dubai Diamond Conference last November and was formalised under the Luanda Agreement on June 18.

Kellie said, “My plans after the NDC? To enjoy a life of retirement, spending more time with friends and family, and traveling more. Unless something exciting tempts me to do otherwise!”