The Israel Diamond Manufacturers’ Association will celebrate its 60-year jubilee, and pay tribute to Gary Ralfe, the outgoing managing director of De Beers, at a gala dinner at the Tel Aviv Hilton Hotel on Dec. 21.

Israel deputy prime minister Ehud Olmert and Alrosa president Alexander Nichiporuk will attend the event. In addition to Ralfe, the De Beers Group will be represented by DTC managing director designate Varda Shine and other leading officials. Alrosa vice presidents Sergey Oulin and Yuri Dudenkov, World Diamond Council president Eli Izhakoff and CIBJO president Gaetano Cavalieri will also be present at the event, which will be attended by hundreds of members of the Israel diamond industry, as well as local business and banking leaders.

IsDMA president Moti Ganz said that the entire Israel diamond industry joins the association in honoring Ralfe, who is concluding a 20-year term as De Beers’ managing director.

“Gary Ralfe has always shown a willingness to respond to the needs of the Israel diamond industry,” Ganz said. “Ralfe led De Beers with wisdom and sensitivity during difficult times, and for this we thank him. We extend congratulations and best wishes to his successor, Gareth Penny. May he lead De Beers on to even greater achievements, to the benefit of the entire global diamond industry.”

JCK