board of directors

IDL brought together an international team of top experts with a wide-range of management, operational and research experience. Our senior gemologists all have extensive experience at reputed gemological institutes. Our researchers have a strong academic background as well as field experience with leading institutions within the diamond trade. Our management team brings together leading players from all aspects of the diamond trade  

The IDL's Board of Directors comprises leading international authorities in the global diamond business:

  • Ahmed bin Sulayem, COO of DMCC
  • Dr. David Rutledge, CEO of DMCC
  • Peter Meeus, CEO of IDL, Executive Director Diamonds of DMCC
  • Peter Gross, former global head of the Int. Diamond & Jewelry Group at ABN AMRO Bank
  • Ian White, former Sales Director of DTC

Dr. David Rutledge, CEO of DMCC. Prior to joining the DMCC in February 2003, he served as Vice President and Chief Economist at the New York Comex Exchange, Managing Director of Zurich Capital Markets; Chief Executive of the Sydney Futures Exchange and Chief Executive of the Queensland Sugar Corporation. Dr. Rutledge holds several degrees in economics and statistics from the University of Sydney and Stanford University, including a Ph.D. from Stanford.

 

Ahmed Bin Sulayem, is Executive Chairman of DMCC. Prior to joining the DMCC, he served as Assistant General Manager at the Asteco Group of Companies where he was responsible for liaising with various government departments of the Emirate's administrative bodies. He has received several honors in recognition of his role in developing Dubai as leading diamond market.

Peter Meeus, IDL's CEO, served as Chief of Staff of the Governor of Antwerp before joining the diamond trade as Director of the Antwerp Diamond Bourse in 1992. He was appointed Managing Director to the HRD, the umbrella organization of Belgian's world diamond center in 1999, a position he held for six years. Early 2006, Meeus moved to Dubai to join the DMCC. As Executive Director Diamonds, Meeus is in charge of implementing the DMCC Masterplan for Diamonds.

Peter Gross previously served as global head of the International Diamond & Jewelry Group at ABN AMRO Bank. Prior to joining the ABN AMRO, Gross spent 24 years with the Chase Manhattan Bank, where he experienced a broad exposure to international banking and took on varied assignments in commercial and investment banking. In recent years, Gross has also been an active participant in the public life of the global diamond community and was one of the original members of the World Diamond Council.

Ian White has over 40 years experience in the diamond industry, working in almost all major diamond markets around the world. He joined the industry as a diamond buyer for the DTC, traveling extensively throughout Africa, before moving to India where was he was instrumental in creating the Government of India/DTC joint. In Belgium, White headed up Diamdel Antwerp, the local selling arm of DTC, before being appointed Managing Director of the Diamdel Group worldwide. For ten years he served as the DTC's Director of Sales in London.

 

"Headquartered in Dubai, IDL is the only government supported diamond laboratory with an international vocation and one of the few in the Middle East. We are convinced that the trade and retailers of the buoyant Middle East market will find this service a welcome tool to stimulate their business and to support consumer confidence in diamonds.' Ahmed bin Sulayem, Executive Chairman of DMCC.

‘We received many signals that the market would welcome an additional international player providing high quality diamond certificates. The diamondlabTM will be unique in its services by offering a higher consistency of results through ground-breaking new technology. Our services truly create real added value to the trade and retail market,' Dr. David Rutledge, CEO of DMCC.

‘International Diamond Laboratories® is built on the existing international standards and practices but will complete them with new technology and better servicing offering

higher consistency and more added value to the trade.' Peter Meeus, CEO of IDL.

"As the number of treated diamonds and synthetics increases, the role of laboratories is becoming increasingly important. That also implies a greater responsibility for diamond labs. I look forward to helping IDL contribute to such a vital role in further ensuring consumer confidence in their diamond purchases,' Peter Gross

‘The diamond market has become a rapidly changing environment. Certificates can help manufacturers and dealers in driving their sales. It is an exciting challenge to assist in developing new services that do just that,' Ian White