Our people
Non-executive Directors
David Ellwood, Non-executive Chairman
Educated in South Africa
David Ellwood is the Chief Executive of Metmar Limited. Having started his career in the trading of steel and ferroalloy products, David Ellwood was a founding member of Metmar Limited when that company was launched in 1985.
Allan Joffe, Non-executive Director
B Comm (Hons); Graduate Accounting Diploma, University of Cape Town; CA (SA)
Allan Joffe has worked in corporate finance and investment banking for UAL Merchant Bank Limited and Nedcor Investment Bank Limited. He is currently with Coronation Capital Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Coronation Investments and Trading Limited and is a non-executive director of Metair Limited and of Scharrig Mining Limited.
Michael Wuth, Non-executive Director
BSc Geology (Hons) University of the Witwatersrand; MSc (Econ Geol) EGRU-University of the Witwatersrand; Member ISSA
Mike spent 10 years with various South African mining houses as an exploration geologist and later as a mine geologist. In 1985 Mike entered stockbroking, initially as a mining analyst and thereafter as the managing partner of a mining and resources focused stockbroker. This was followed by a move into investment banking, where he was involved in mining corporate finance and private equity (propriety equity). He has recently been appointed as CEO of Jonah Mining.
Nick Watson, Non-executive Director
Educated in Zimbabwe, has various banking certificates with an Executive Development Diploma from the University of Zimbabwe
Nick worked for 12 years in the banking industry with Standard Bank Limited, Zimbabwe; Merchant Bank of Central Africa Limited, Zimbabwe; and Intabex SA, United Kingdom. Since 1990 Nick has developed and directed a number of companies including banks and tobacco traders throughout Africa.
Executive Directors
Alan Smith, CEO
BSc, Mining Engineering, University of the Witwatersrand
Alan Smith has more than 30 years’ experience in the mining industry with companies including Anglo American, Minorco, De Beers, Anglo Coal and AngloGold. More recently he was the CEO of New Diamond Corporation and of Lesotho Diamond Corporation.
Bruce Stride, Operations Director
Educated in South Africa
Bruce has 11 years mining experience in Rwanda, the DRC and Zambia, and 21 years’ prior experience in the financial services industry and in insurance.
Management
Brian Christophers, General Manager Projects – DRC
Educated in South Africa
Brian has 12 years’ experience in the mining industry in Rwanda, the DRC and Zambia. This was preceded by a career with De Beers and running a drilling contracting company in South Africa.
Gavin Cooper, Group Geologist
BSc Geology (Hons) University of Natal
Gavin has extensive gold, diamond and coal mining industry experience gained over a career of 20 years, working for De Beers, AngloCoal and AngloGold Ashanti. Experience on primary, alluvial and marine deposits were gained in South Africa, Namibia, Sierra Leone, Mali and Guinea.
