Officials
Shlomo Eshed
President
Shlomo Eshed has been the President of the Exchange since 2002, this is the eighth consecutive term.
Earlier, Eshed served as vice president.
Shlomo Eshed's father - Eliyahu Eshed Z’L - was one of the pioneers of the diamond industry in Israel and one of the directors of the Bukhara Diamonds Cooperative, which operated in Netanya in the 1940s.
The late Eliyahu Eshed received the "Dear of the Diamond Industry" award from the association.
Shlomo Eshed followed in his father's footsteps and joined the industry in 1973 after his release from his military service in the paratroopers.
In 1990, together with his younger brother - Ofer, he founded “Gmerald “- one of the leading gemstone manufacturing companies in Israel, specializing mainly in the production of emeralds and tanzanites.
From the beginning and as of today, he continue to put the promotion of the gems industry in Israel as priority, Shlomo Eshed acted within the various committees of the Israel Gemstons Exchange - even before he was first elected to the Board of Directors of the Stock Exchange.
MATITYAHU (MATI) SHEMESH
Deputy/Vice President and Treasurer
Born in Afghanistan, Mati Shemesh immigrated to Israel in 1977, and soon afterwards began his career in the industry as a diamond polisher. With a family connection to the colored gemstone business, he branched out into the precious stones trade, becoming a member of the Israel Precious Stones and Diamond Exchange in 1982.
Today, Mati works with his brother, Zevulun Shemesh, predominantly as a manufacturer and exporter of fancy colored diamonds. The company is headquartered in the Yahalom Building of the Israeli Diamond Exchange complex.
He joined the IPSDE Board of Directors in 2006, and served as Treasurer before taking on the additional roles of Deputy President and Vice President. Mati took an active role in the organization of the event in 2013 that celebrated the 40th anniversary of the IPSDE’s establishment.
MISHEL AZIZ
Vice President
Born in Iran, Mishel Aziz immigrated to Israel in 1976, and got his start in the industry in 1978 after studying a course in gemology. It was to stand him in good stead, for during the wake of a wave of immigration from Iran following the revolution in the early 1980s, he was called on to teach gemology in Persian to Iranian immigrants planning to join the industry.
With a background in colored gemstones and diamonds, including a period at which he worked for one Israel’s largest gemstone manufacturers, Mishel established HM Diamonds in 2008, specializing in the production of side stones.
Mishel was elected to the IPSDE Board of Directors in 2006.
Avinoam Abramoff
Director
Born in Israel 1949.
Has been active in the gemstone and diamonds industry since 1975 in Italy and the USA.
Was the co-owner of Balance Trading Group LTD in NYC since 1977 and a member of the DDC NY and DTA NY till 1990.
In 1975 joined the Israel Precious Stones & Diamonds Exchange LTD.
Worked at Hargem Co – one of the largest Emeralds cutting center in Israel - for 2 years (1975-1976) and than moved to the US in 1977 to form the Balance Trading Group with his brother.
Through the years of activity in the industry dealt with Emeralds, Rubies, Sapphires and Diamonds on the wholesale level in the USA and Europe.
In 2020 was elected as director in the Israel Precious Stones & Diamonds Exchange.
Dan Lipshitz
Director
Member of the color stones and Diamond Exchange since 2001
The late grandfather Yosef Yohannoff, one of the founders of the diamond industry in Israel
Chosen as the darling of the diamond industry in 2010
Active in the gem industry since 1991, when he was hired by the "Hargem" company by the late Ben Zion Harel.
Since 2015 director of HOUSE OF GEMS ISRAEL
Amir Ben David
Director
Born 1956 third generation diamond / gemstone.
I worked as a diamond miner in the Amazon in Brazil and marketed diamonds / gemstones / jewelry wholesale in England.
I returned to Israel in 2004 and since 2006 I am a member of the Israel Gem and Diamond Exchange.
Gideon Gidi Bustani
Director
Member of the Gem and Diamond Exchange since 1978
Member of the board of the exchange for gems and diamonds from December 2023
International expert for raw Afghan emeralds, Colombia, Brazil, Russia, Madagascar, Africa - Zambia
Expert in cutting, sawing and polishing gemstones
CEO of SOULGEM, GEM (TRES) LTD
ESTHER HAREL
Executive Secretary
Joining the Israel Precious Stones and Diamonds Exchange in 1989, Esther Harel is responsible for the day to day management of the bourse’s administrative staff, as well as providing services to the President, Board of Directors and IPSDE committees.
Meira Tzomi
Bookkeeper
Meira joined the administrative staff in 1987.
Ilana Moshe-Ogli
Secretary
Ilana joined the administrative staff in 1988.