Udi Sheintal

Udi Sheintal was born in Israel in 1956. After his discharge from the army in 197, with the rank of lieutenant (he later rose to major in the reserves), he studied political science and labour studies at Tel Aviv University.

In 1981 Mr. Sheintal went to work for the Israel Ministry of Industry and Trade and was trained as a commercial attaché. There he served as Deputy Manager of the North America section, Assistant Director-General, Trade Commissioner for Canada, Advisor to the Director-General, Senior Deputy Director-General for Administration, Trade Commissioner for the South-East of the USA based in Atlanta, Georgia, and Director of a course for Commercial Accountants.

In June 1998 he began serving as Diamond Controller and director of the Diamonds, Precious Stones and Jewellery Administration. During his period of service he was the first Diamond Controller to be involved in the creation and implementation of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme, which went into effect in January 2003. He also took steps to simplify the import/export process at the customs station in the Office of the Diamond Controller.

In 2004, after serving as Diamond Controller, Sheintal served as Vice Director-General of the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labour.

In July 2007 he was appointed Managing Director of the Israel Diamond Manufacturers Association. In this position, he also serves as Chairman of the Israel Economic Representative Club, Chairman of the Diamond Commission of CIBJO, The International Jewellery Confederation, as an officer in the International Diamond Council and as the Secretary of the World Diamond Council.

When he first joined the diamond industry as a government official, Mr. Sheintal began a long-term relationship with the world’s leading rough diamond companies. He continues this today as Managing Director of the Israel Diamond Manufacturers Association.