Mr Kenyon-Slaney was a member of the Group Executive committee of Rio Tinto where he held the roles of CEO of Energy, and before that CEO of Diamonds and Minerals. Prior to this, he variously led Rio Tinto’s global titanium dioxide business, was CEO of Rio Tinto’s listed subsidiary, Energy Resources of Australia Ltd, was GM Operations at Palabora Mining Company in South Africa and held senior marketing roles in copper, uranium and industrial minerals. He began his career as an underground geologist with Anglo American on the gold mines in South Africa.
Chairman Roger Davis commented: “I am delighted to be handing the chairmanship on to Harry Kenyon-Slaney whose experience, knowledge and contacts in the diamond mining world are perfectly suited to lead Gem Diamonds forward to what I am sure will be an exciting future. It has been a great privilege to be Chairman of Gem Diamonds and I wish him and the whole company every success in the future.”