DiamondBuzz
Petra Diamonds Confirms Vivek Gadodia and Juan Kemp as Joint CEOs, Strengthens Board Leadership
New permanent appointments aim to drive operational stability, corporate efficiency, and long-term value creation.
Petra Diamonds has officially named Vivek Gadodia and Juan Kemp as joint CEOs, following approval at the company’s annual general meeting on November 27. The duo, who have served as joint interim CEOs since February, will now continue in these roles on a permanent basis. Gadodia will lead the corporate strategy, while Kemp will oversee the miner’s operations, with both reporting regularly to the board.
“In the past nine months, we have shaped Petra into a more streamlined and resilient business as we worked through the company’s refinancing. We are committed to guiding the organisation forward, with a clear focus on delivering our extension projects and unlocking value for stakeholders in the short to medium term,” they said.
In parallel, Petra Diamonds has expanded and reshaped its board. Kushal Kamir, a finance veteran with more than 30 years of global experience in corporate banking, investment management, and credit markets, has joined as a nonexecutive director. Lerato Molebatsi has been appointed senior independent nonexecutive director, while José Manuel Vargas will now chair the remuneration and nomination committees. All appointments take effect immediately.
At the same time, Alex Watson, board observer, and Bernard Pryor, senior non-executive director and chair of the nomination committee, have stepped down from their roles.
DiamondBuzz
Lesotho’s Kao Diamond Mine To Halt Operations Amid Industry Slump
The Mine’s Operator, Storm Mountain, Cited A Severe Financial Crisis Driven By A Prolonged Drop In Global Rough-diamond Prices, Rising Middle East Conflict
Lesotho’s largest diamond mine, Kao, will cease operations on June 30 and transition to care and maintenance. The mine’s operator, Storm Mountain, cited a severe financial crisis driven by a prolonged drop in global rough-diamond prices, rising Middle East conflict-related fuel costs, and stiff competition from lab-grown diamonds.
Despite a warning last October that the mine required $13 million in fresh capital to survive, the necessary investment did not materialise. According to CEO Neo Hoala, the steep market decline made continued operations unsustainable. The shutdown will impact roughly 750 workers.
The mine’s financial downturn is stark: in 2024, Storm Mountain sold 250,000 carats for $50 million—a massive drop from its $105 million revenue in 2022. Kao’s suspension reflects a broader crisis in the diamond sector, following recent insolvencies and closures at Canada’s Ekati mine and South Africa’s Ekapa and Finsch mines.
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