Press Release – New York – The Diamond Empowerment Fund (D.E.F.) welcomes Marcus ter Haar, Deputy Managing Director of the Okavango Diamond Company (ODC) based in Botswana, to its global board of directors effective October 1. A seasoned executive of the diamond industry, ter Haar brings to the board 12 years of diverse experience including senior positions at De Beers London, Debswana, and DTC Botswana prior to his current role.
Ter Haar hails from Botswana, the largest producer of gem quality diamonds in the world, and which has recently celebrated 50 years of Independence, peaceful democracy and prosperity. Marcus has always blended his business responsibilities with the importance of giving back and supporting local communities.
For a number of years he has served on the board of Lady Khama Charitable Trust – an organization founded to continue the legacy of his grandmother Lady Khama, which focuses on providing support to vulnerable women and children. At the recent screening in Botswana of the new film A United Kingdom (the U.S. release of the film is slated for February 2017) starring David Oyelowo as Seretse Khama ( first President of Botswana) and Rosamund Pike as Lady Khama, all proceeds went to the beneficiaries of the Trust.
Through a Corporate Social Responsibility initiative funded by the ODC, ter Haar has helped launch an entrepreneurship program targeting the youth across Botswana. Ter Haar also serves as Director on the Board of Wilderness Holdings an African Conservation business.
As D.E.F. board president Phyllis Bergman says “Marcus is a fabulous addition to our global board of directors. He truly epitomizes how ‘Diamonds Do Good”. Replies ter Haar “I’m thrilled to be working with the Diamond Empowerment Fund and to help consolidate and grow its mission. Never has there been a more important time for our industry to re-enforce the message to consumers, especially the millennial consumer, that Diamonds Do Good”.
