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Harry Kenyon-Slaney
Non-Executive Chairman
BSc Geology (Southampton University), International Executive Programme (INSEAD France)
Harry Kenyon-Slaney is currently a senior advisor to McKinsey & Co and has over 38 years of experience in the mining industry, principally with Rio Tinto. He is a geologist by training and his experience spans operations, marketing, projects, finance and business development. He has worked in South Africa, Australia and the UK. Harry is also the senior independent director of Petropavlovsk Plc; a member of the advisory board of Schenck Process AG; a non-executive director of Sibanye Stillwater; and a non-executive director of several private companies. Until 2015, Harry was a member of the Group Executive committee of Rio Tinto where he held the roles of CEO of Energy, and before that CEO of Diamonds and Minerals. Prior to this he variously led Rio Tinto’s global titanium dioxide business, was CEO of Rio Tinto’s listed subsidiary, Energy Resources of Australia Ltd, was GM Operations at Palabora Mining Company in South Africa and held senior marketing roles in copper, uranium and industrial minerals. Hebegan his career as an underground geologist with Anglo American on the gold mines in South Africa.
Appointed
Harry was appointed as Chairman of the Board in June 2017.
Key skills and experience
Commercial and capital markets. Leadership of large and complex global mining and processing businesses. Public company board governance and government stakeholder engagement.
Board Committee Membership
Chairman of the Nominations Committee and a Member of the Remuneration and Sustainability Committees.
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Michael Lynch-Bell
Non-Executive Director
BA Hons Economics and Accountancy (University of Sheffield); FCA of the ICAEW
Michael spent a 38-year career with Ernst & Young (EY) having led its Global Oil and Gas, UK IPO and Global Oil and Gas and Mining transaction advisory practices. He was a member of the assurance practice from 1974 to 1996 when he transferred to the Transaction Advisory Practice. He was also UK Alumni sponsor and a member of the firm’s EMEIA and Global Advisory Councils. He retired from EY as a partner in 2012 and continued as a consultant to the firm until November 2013. Michael is currently Deputy Chair and Senior Independent non-Executive Director at Kaz Minerals Plc; Chair of the Audit Committee at Lenta Limited; Chair of Little Green Pharma Limited; and non-Executive Director of Barloworld Limited.
Appointed
Michael joined the Board in December 2015 and was appointed Senior Independent Director in November 2017.
Key skills and experience
Finance and capital markets, Oil and gas, Mining and metals
Board Committee Membership
Chairman of the Audit and Remuneration Committees and a member of the Nomination Committee
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Mike Brown
Non-Executive Director
B.Sc.Eng. Mining PR Eng (ECSA) Engineering (University of Witswatersrand), Strategic Executive Programme (London Business School)
Mike has over 36 years’ experience in the resources industry in operational, senior management, and director roles. He spent six years in Switzerland as the Managing Director Technical at Pala where he oversaw all technical aspects of the investments, including the risks associated with resource performance, project management, ramp up, operations, and the associated working capital and financial controls. Prior to joining Pala, Mike spent 21 years with De Beers in Southern Africa in various roles culminating in the post of Chief Operating Officer where he was accountable for five operating mines, including greenfield and brownfield growth projects. He also managed the restructuring at De Beers Consolidated Mines (DBCM) in 2005/2006 and again in 2009. Mike has overseen growth projects and building of mines in Namibia, South Africa, Sierra Leone, Vietnam and USA. Mike is currently a Non-Executive Director of Nevada Copper.
Appointed
Mike joined the Board in January 2018.
Key skills and experience
Operational, resource performance, project growth and finance
Board Committee Membership
Chairman of the Sustainability Committee, Member of the Audit and Nomination Committees.
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Mazvi Maharasoa
Non-Executive Director
LLM (International and Commercial Law), University of Buckingham
Mazvi Maharasoa has over 21 years’ experience in senior management positions, including leading roles in the mining sector having served as the Resident Director and Chief Executive Officer of Letšeng Diamonds (Pty) Ltd until 2017. Furthermore, Mazvi was also the Founder and President of the Lesotho Chamber of Mines (2016). Prior to her work in the mining industry, Mazvi was involved in the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Central Bank of Lesotho, where she was the senior legal counsel for each of these entities. Mazvi is currently a Non-Executive Director of Stanlib Lesotho (Pty) Ltd and Intellectual Disabilities and Autism Lesotho and has also established an advisory firm that specializes in corporate governance practice and advice.
Appointed
Mazvi joined the Board in July 2019.
Key skills and experience
Mining and resources industry, public company board governance.
Board Committee Membership
Member of the Sustainability Committee
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Rosalind Kainyah
Non-Executive Director
BA (Hons) (University of Ghana), LLB (Hons) (University of London), LLM (University College, University of London), Member of the Bar of England & Wales (Gray’s Inn), MCIArb
Ms Kainyah is the founder and Managing Director of Kina Advisory Limited, a trusted advisor to Boards and Senior Executives of global companies on Sustainability and responsible business investment and partnerships in emerging markets. She trained as a lawyer and is a member of the Bar of England and Wales and of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. Rosalind has almost 30 years of combined international, senior management, executive and board level experience. She has worked with companies and organisations including Linklaters, Anglo American Corporation of South Africa, De Beers, Tullow Oil plc, the United Nations Environment Programme and ERM, and on projects across Africa, in the UK, Europe, North & South America, Asia, and the South Pacific. As a result, she has a wide network and is respected across a range of stakeholders from governments and corporates through civil society organisations and media for her professional expertise and as a woman of integrity and credibility.
Appointed
Rosalind joined the Board in May 2021
Key skills and experience
Sustainability, Environmental, Diamond and mining industries, Legal and Finance
Board Committee Membership
Member of the Remuneration, Audit and Sustainability Committees
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Jaco Houman
Senior Manager - Technical and Projects
B.Eng(Met) (University of Pretoria); MBA (University of Witwatersrand Business School)
Jaco’s technical and managerial career spans more than 23 years. He has a diverse background in areas of operational excellence, design, production, technical support, SHEQ and consulting. Key activities that he has been involved in includes development and implementation of a turnaround plan, performance improvement initiatives, cost reduction measures, volume expansion at an operation, project, and group level. He has led and assisted in the development of technical strategies, pre-feasibility and feasibility studies, design, commissioning and technical evaluation reviews. He led the safety, occupational hygiene and environmental departments at a large corporate for more than 2 years. He has spent some time in business improvement and applied financial modelling skills to enhance operational delivery through the optimisation of the value chain to maximise value for the business.
Appointed
Jaco joined Gem Diamonds in June 2016
Key skills and experience
Projects Management (Studies, Design, Construction and Commissioning), Operational Excellence, Production Management, Technical and Business Consulting, Safety and Environmental Management.
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Clifford Elphick
Chief Executive Officer
BCom (University of Cape Town); BCompt Hons (University of South Africa)
Clifford joined Anglo American Corporation in 1986 and was seconded to E. Oppenheimer and Son as Harry Oppenheimer’s personal assistant in 1988. In 1990, he was appointed Managing Director of E. Oppenheimer and Son, a position he held until leaving in December 2004. During that time, Clifford was also a Director of Central Holdings, Anglo American and DB Investments. Following the privatisation of De Beers in 2000, Clifford served on the De Beers Executive Committee. Clifford is also the non-Executive Chairman of Zanaga Iron Ore Co. Limited
Appointed
Clifford formed Gem Diamonds in July 2005.
Key skills and experience
Diamond and mining industries; Commercial and capital markets.
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Michael Michael
Chief Financial Officer
BCom Hons (Rand Afrikaans University); CA(SA)
Michael Michael has over 21 years’ experience in financial management. He joined RSM Betty & Dickson (Audit Firm) in Johannesburg South Africa in January 1993 and became audit partner at the firm in March 2000. From August 2006 to February 2008 Michael was seconded to Gem Diamonds Limited to assist with the financial aspects of the Main London Listing including the financial reporting, management accounting and tax relating to the Initial Public Offering. In March 2008 Michael joined Gem Diamonds on a full-time basis as the Group Financial Manager. On 2 April 2013 he was promoted to the position of Chief Financial Officer.
Appointed
Michael joined Gem Diamonds in March 2008 and was appointed to the Board in April 2013.
Key skills and experience
Finance and capital markets; Diamond industry.
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Glenn Turner
Chief Legal and Commercial Officer and Company Secretary
BA LLB (University of Cape Town); LLM (Cambridge)
Glenn was called to the Johannesburg Bar in 1987 where he spent 14 years practising as an advocate specialising in general commercial and competition law, and took silk in 2002. Glenn was appointed De Beers’ first General Counsel in 2002 and was also a member of the Executive Committee. Glenn was responsible for a number of key initiatives during his tenure, including overseeing De Beers’ re-entry into the USA.
Appointed
Glenn joined Gem Diamonds in May 2006 and served on the Board from April 2008 to November 2017. Glenn was appointed as the Company Secretary in January 2015
Key skills and experience
Diamond industry; Legal.
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Brandon de Bruin
Chief Operating Officer
BCom (Economics and Business Economics) and LLB - University of the Witwatersrand; Attorney (SA) and Solicitor (England and Wales)
Brandon de Bruin joined Gem Diamonds from Clifford Chance LLP, one of the world's leading international law firms. Practicing in New York and London, he specialised in Debt and Equity Capital Markets and Corporate Finance. Brandon gained extensive commercial and legal experience in international corporate and finance transactions working for clients such as Citigroup, UBS, JPMorgan, ABN Amro and Bank of America. He also gained valuable experience in stock exchange listings in London, Luxembourg and New York. At Gem Diamonds, Brandon has led numerous corporate and financial transactions and managed the Group's Sales, Marketing and Manufacturing division. In 2017, Brandon headed up the Group’s Business Transformation program as the Chief Business Transformation Officer and recently, following his appointment in 2019 as the Group Operations and Business Transformation Executive, he has been appointed as the Group’s Chief Operating Officer.
Appointed
Brandon joined Gem Diamonds in August 2007
Key skills and experience
Business Transformation; Operational Optimisation, Sales, Marketing and Manufacturing; Legal and Commercial
