1 Nov 2016 07:05
1 November 2016
Firestone Diamonds plc
("Firestone", the "Group" or the "Company") (AIM: FDI)
Board Changes
Firestone Diamonds plc, the AIM-quoted diamond mining company announces the following changes to its Board of Director's (the "Board") effective today.
The Board is pleased to announce the appointment of Ms. Deborah Thomas as an independent Non-executive Director with immediate effect. Debbie will chair the Audit Committee.
Debbie retired as a partner from Deloitte in May 2016 after a career spanning 22 years, during which time she has gained extensive experience advising some of the world's leading mining companies. Her experience includes working in the UK and African practices of Deloitte where she was Head of the Metals & Mining Team and latterly Head of the Africa Services Group. She was also on the board of the Deloitte UK Global Markets group.
At Deloitte, Debbie was the lead client service partner for De Beers UK and De Beers Diamond Jewellers (a UK private JV between De Beers and LVMH) for 10 years and was also involved with many other metals and mining companies in a delivery and advisory role, including but not limited to: Anglo American, BHP Billiton, De Beers and Rio Tinto. Debbie was also the founder of the Diamond Assurances team at Deloitte in response to the diamond industry Kimberley Process Initiative. In her Africa role she was instrumental in facilitating UK/Africa reciprocal investment and was a lead facilitator in the Deloitte CFO Transition program, and continues to coach candidates at the Deloitte University in Brussels. A keen developer of people, she founded the first foreign training office for South African Institute of Chartered Accountants ("SAICA"), based in London, which now trains over 100 South African chartered accountants annually.
She holds a number of Board positions including being a Director of SAICA and Chairs SAICA's UK committee and is a member of the Advisory Board to the South African Chamber of Commerce and Education Africa. She was a member of the UKTI Sub-Saharan African Taskforce and the Africa Advisory Board of CityUK. Debbie has been voted one of the top 100 Most influential South Africans in London and one of the top 100 women in mining globally and is currently the Chair of Women in Mining.
The Board wishes to advise that Mr. Braam Jonker, who joined the Board in December 2011, will step down, effective today. Over the past five years Braam has made a tremendous contribution to the success of the Company, his involvement in the equity and debt raise in 2014 was invaluable and the Company remains very grateful for his guidance and advice. Braam was also chairman of the Audit Committee where his experience and knowledge has been appreciated through the construction cycle of the project. The Board and the Company wish Braam all the best with his future endeavours.
Lucio Genovese, Chairman, commented:
"I am delighted that Debbie has agreed to join the Board as Firestone transitions into a producing diamond company. She brings with her a wealth of executive and leadership experience, having advised a number of the world's leading metals & mining companies.
Over the last five years Braam has made an invaluable contribution to Firestone and we are all extremely indebted to his support and wish him well for the future."
Additional information on Mrs. Deborah Thomas
The following additional information is provided in accordance with paragraph (g) of Schedule Two to the AIM Rules for Companies:
Deborah Ann Thomas (nee Howie) (aged 46)
Current Directorships/Partnerships | Past (last 5 years) |
Bibimoney Global Limited | Deloitte LLP |
South African Institute of Chartered Accountants | |
Star, Fish & Little Limited | |
Women in Mining |
There is no other information that is required to be disclosed pursuant to paragraph (g) of Schedule Two to the AIM Rules for Companies.
For more information contact:
Firestone Diamonds plc | +44 (0)20 8741 7810 |
Stuart Brown | |
Strand Hanson Limited (Nomad) | +44 (0)20 7409 3494 |
Stuart Faulkner | |
Richard Tulloch | |
James Dance | |
Macquarie Capital (Europe) Limited (Joint Broker) | |
Raj Khatri | +44(0)20 3037 2000 |
Nick Stamp | |
Mirabaud Securities LLP (Joint Broker) | |
Rory Scott | +44 (0)20 7878 3360 |
Ed Haig-Thomas | +44 (0)20 7878 3447 |
Tavistock (Public and Investor Relations) | +44 (0)20 7920 3150 |
Emily Fenton Jos Simson | +44 (0)7788 554 035 |
Barney Hayward | |
Background information on Firestone
Firestone is an international diamond mining company with operations focused on Lesotho. Firestone is currently in the process of commencing production at the Liqhobong Diamond Mine in Lesotho to become a one million carat per annum producer.
Lesotho is emerging as one of Africa's significant new diamond producers, hosting Gem Diamonds' Letseng Mine, Firestone's Liqhobong Mine and Namakwa Diamonds' Kao Mine.
For more information please visit: www.firestonediamonds.com.
**ENDS**