Cleaver Highlights Importance of Relationship with De Beers’ Partners

(IDEX Online News) – In one of his first official announcements as the new De Beers CEO, Bruce Cleaver has emphasized the enduring importance of relationships with the company’s partners.

Cleaver wrote a blog post for the De Beers website, in which he wrote that “De Beers holds a unique position with consumers, our rough diamond customers, governments, communities and retailers.” Cleaver was explicit in his desire to see the entirety of the diamond pipeline succeed, and said that how De Beers went about its business was as important as what it did.

The De Beers CEO also cautioned that continued consumer demand at its current level could not be taken for granted. “Consumer demand really is our only source of value – we must therefore all be unrelenting in stimulating it, in established markets, developing markets and emerging markets.”

Cleaver also touched on the socio-economic aspect of the global diamond trade. “I have been privileged to see for myself the good that diamonds have done for communities and governments around the world where we operate. They make positive contributions to countries that have used their revenues wisely, to communities that surround operations and to the beneficiaries of the practical benefits of responsible mining and ethical sourcing. Diamonds do good, but I think they can – and should – do better.”