Derek Palmer, global marketing and communications director of De Beers’ Diamond Trading Company, is retiring at the end of November, after a 32-year career with the DTC.

Palmer’s career, spanning both research and marketing, has taken him around the world on behalf of the DTC. His marketing career began in the research department, working under Keith Ives, after which he was promoted to run De Beers’ research group under Jeremy Pudney in the old consumer and advertising division.

He then moved into marketing management, running first the European region and then the United States. market for the DTC. He will be particularly remembered for the development of the “Shadows” advertising campaign in the U.K. and the extension of that campaign to the U.S.

Palmer also focused on central activities within the division, heading De Beers’ branding projects such as the Millennium Limited Edition, and working with Gareth Penny on projects that led to the Supplier of Choice strategy.

He ran the Asia Pacific Region during the implementation of Japan’s strategic review and the launch of the successful Trilogy Programme, before returning to the central role of selling “Supplier of Choice” to the industry.

JCK