HRD CEO Peter Meeus Resigns

“There are huge differences of opinion between myself and the overwhelming majority of the Board of Directors on the division of the tasks and responsibilities between the Director General and the Board,” writes Meeus, recalling that these troubles were already present  from the very beginning of his stint as HRD chief. "They have irritated me enormously."

Meeus stresses that there had been “many good years” when he “was allowed to do my thing.” He lists the organization of the annual Antwerp Diamond Conferences as some of his career highlights. “Let’s not forget”, he writes in his ‘dear Jackie’ letter, “that these conferences were our baby – yours and mine. We were a sparkling team. Our conferences have grown to become the most prestigious event in our City and in Flanders.”

Peter Meeus expresses his deep worries about the future of the diamond business in Belgium. “The gap which Antwerp begins to show between the “have” and “have-not” will widen by the day. This shall also be reflected in the HRD and in its organs,” he says.

Describing the difficult atmosphere within the Board of the HRD, he says, “I have come to realize that I may have become a part of the problem. The difficulties have become so personalized within the Board that someone must make room in order to restore normalcy – and, in my business philosophy, the person that will have to go is me.”

Meeus does not express anger. He is 43 years old with his future still before him, he says; and he is not worried about his own career opportunities. Actually, he confides that he has already received some interesting job offers, though his personal preference is to take time out and enjoy a sabbatical.