CEO you later – De Beers Group gets a new CEO

De Beers Group has a new CEO, after Phillipe Mellier decided to step down as the current CEO after five years.

In his place, Anglo American has announced that Bruce Cleaver, Group Director of Strategy and Business Development for the company, will take over as the new CEO of De Beers Group in effect from 1 July 2016.

Bruce Cleaver said of the appointment: “I am honoured to be asked to lead one of the world’s great companies.”

“I look forward to working closely with all of our key customers, governments and other stakeholders to ensure that De Beers continues to lead the industry into a new and exciting phase,” He said.

Outgoing CEO Phillipe Mellier spoke of the great ‘privilege’ he had to lead De Beers Group in what was a testing time for the industry.

“Having steered through some of the diamond industry’s toughest times and with the market showing signs of recovery, now is the right time for me to pass the baton to the next generation.” He said.

“I have worked closely with Bruce Cleaver throughout and I have no doubt about his abilities and experience to lead De Beers on the next stage of its journey as the world’s leading diamond company.”

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Read the May 2016 issue of Mining Global magazine