Richard Lawson has been appointed De Beers CFO
Sarah Kuiljaars will step down as CFO of diamond miner De Beers Group and will be succeeded by Richard Lawson, who is currently the group's head of planning and business development, with effect from October 1.
“I would like to thank Sarah for everything she has contributed to De Beers during her time as CFO. She strengthened our finance organisation, strengthened our business and strengthened our balance sheet, underpinning the company's long-term success. I would like to wish her well for her future," comments CEO Al Cook.
Lawson joined De Beers in 2017 as group financial controller and has served as a key member of the company’s finance leadership team. Prior to joining De Beers, he trained as a chartered accountant at PwC before joining Anglo American Thermal Coal in South Africa, where he ran the finance department and supported the transformation of that business prior to its demerger from Anglo American.
“I am very pleased that we have such a strong and experienced successor in Richard. [He] has worked closely with Sarah over the past three years and has an outstanding understanding of De Beers and its businesses. The continuity, knowledge and leadership he brings to the role will be of great value as we position De Beers for growth,” says Cook.
“It has been a pleasure to work closely with Sarah over the past several years, and I am grateful to have the support of the leadership team that she developed. De Beers is a remarkable company with a storied history and I’m excited to play my part in that history by shaping a sustainable future that extends the leadership position of De Beers and its partners,” Lawson adds.