Incoming Gem Diamonds nonexecutive director Mike Brown
Photo by: Duane Daws
JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – Diamond producer Gem Diamonds is set to receive fresh blood as decade-sitting Gavin Beevers will not stand for re-election in 2018 as a nonexecutive director.
Beevers announced this decision at the end of October, with the company revealing on Thursday its intent to replace Beevers with multi-faceted adviser Mike Brown.
Beevers will resign from the board with effect from December 31, with Brown taking over as an independent nonexecutive director on New Year’s day.
Gem Diamonds chairperson Harry Kenyon-Slaney said Brown would bring “wide, deep and very relevant” experience to deliberations of the company.
“It is, of course, with great sadness that we also say goodbye to Gavin Beevers, who has resigned from the board to facilitate this transition,” said Kenyon-Slaney. He added that Beevers provided “tremendous support” to both the board and the wider management team over many years. “I would like to thank him for his long service and wish him every success for the future.”
Currently holding many director and adviser positions, Brown is able to bring to Gem Diamonds over 35 years of experience in the resources industry where he has served in operational, senior management and director roles. He is currently a nonexecutive director of TSX-listed Nevada Copper, an adviser to investment company Pala Investments, a managing partner for mining consultancy Palaris in Africa, and has opened his own mining advisory company.
In addition, Brown has spent six years in Switzerland as the technical MD of Pala Investments – a role in which he has overseen all technical aspects of the investments, including the risks associated with resource performance, project management, ramp-up, operations as well as the associated working capital and financial controls.
Before joining Pala Investments, Brown spent 21 years with diamond major De Beers in Southern Africa, where he held various positions. His time with De Beers ultimately culminated in the post of COO, where he was accountable for five operating mines, including greenfield and brownfield growth projects.
Further, Brown was also a nonexecutive director of Aim-listed Sierra Rutile and TSX-listed Asian Mineral Resources. He also managed the restructuring at De Beers in 2005/06 and again in 2009. Brown has also overseen growth projects and mine construction in Namibia, South Africa, Sierra Leone, Vietnam and the US.