Eduard Denckens, chairman of the SBD, passes the torch; Bart De Hantsetters appointed new chairman

After more than 20 years as chairman of the Syndicate of the Belgian Diamond Industry (SBD), Eduard Denckens (73) is passing the torch. The SBD Board of Directors has unanimously appointed Bart De Hantsetters as the new chairman. Stéphane Fischler and Pol Van der Steen have been reappointed as vice-chairmen, as have Stanny Van Blerk as secretary, Lucien Cornelissens and Willy Henneuse as treasurers and Jos Heiremans as councilor. Wim Ruythooren was appointed secretary, while Eva Van Looveren and Koen Smets will sit as councilors in the SBD offices. Eduard Denckens will remain a member of the Board of Directors and has unanimously been appointed honorary chairman.

Over the course of his more than half-century career in the diamond trade, Eduard Denckens (Ward to his friends) assumed countless mandates, among others in the Hoge Raad voor Diamant – predecessor to the current Antwerp World Diamond Centre – but also as a member of the National Joint Committee for the Diamond Industry and Diamond Trade, the State Holiday Trust for the Diamond Industry and for the Diamond Committee of the Central Economic Council. He was also the co-founder and chairman of the Scientific and Technical Research Center for Diamonds (WTOCD), chairman of the Internal Compensation Fund for the Diamond Sector (ICD), secretary-general of the International Diamond Manufacturers Association (IDMA) and founder of the European Council of Diamond Manufacturers. 

His impressive career was characterized above all by his boundless commitment to and passion for the Antwerp diamond industry in general, and diamond manufacturing in particular.

For instance, Denckens helped to found the social plan for the diamond manufacturing industry, a unique system that significantly increased local employment and competitiveness with low-wage countries. Additionally, Denckens was also the instigator of numerous innovative collective labor agreements, such as the introduction of flexible working hours. Under his presidency, the Scientific and Technical Research Center for Diamonds (WTOCD) also developed into a spearhead for technological developments to the benefit of Belgian diamond manufacturing.

It should therefore come as no surprise that Denckens, who is now relinquishing the presidency of the Syndicate of the Belgian Diamond Industry after 21 years of faithful service, has been honored with several impressive distinctions, including Knight of the Order of Leopold II (1988), Honorary Dean of the Diamond Industry (1997), Officer of the Order of Leopold II (2002), Commander of the Order of Leopold II (2012) and last year, Emeritus Dean of the Diamond Industry.

On behalf of AWDC, we would expressly like to thank Eduard Denckens for his many years of dedication to our industry!