A second-generation diamond manufacturer who entered the industry in 1961, Mr. Obbels (born 1947) grew up in the diamond manufacturing industry. He began his career by working at his father’s firm Obbels Diamonds in the Flemish town of Nijlen and later set up Antwerp Diamond Cutting and Anders Diamonds companies.

RenéObbels is a member of both the Beurs voor Diamanthandel (Antwerp Diamond Bourse) and the Diamantclub van Antwerpen.

Since the early 1980s, he has also served on the board of the former Diamond High Council (HRD), since 2007 renamed the Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC), the umbrella organisation of the Belgian diamond sector. He currently chairs the AWDC’s Financial Committee.

He was a founding member of the former WTOCD (Scientific Technological Diamond Research Centre) as well as of the European Council of Diamond Manufacturers (ECDM) where he served as deputy chairman.

René Obbels is married and a father of twins – a son and a daughter.