Mantle Diamonds Limited is pleased to announce the appointment of Niall Young as Non-Executive Director to the company.
Niall has over 25 years diamond experience with the Anglo American / De Beers Group of companies.
Born in Londonderry Northern Ireland, Niall was educated at Foyle College. He holds a B.Sc. (Hons) degree in Mining Geology from University College Cardiff and is a Fellow of the Geological Society of London. Niall has 25 years in exploration, evaluation and mining with the Anglo American / Minorco / De Beers Group of companies.
He joined De Beers in 1984 and spent four years in marine diamond exploration with De Beers Marine (Pty) Ltd in South Africa. In 1988 he transferred to Jwaneng Mine in Botswana where he worked until March 1992, when he was seconded to the former Russian diamond mining company PNO Yakutalmaz (JSC Alrosa) for four months as part of a technical co-operation agreement.
Between 1993 and 1995 Niall was based at De Beers Central Selling Organisation in London with De Beers Global Exploration, reporting to the Consulting Geologist in Moscow. At the beginning of 1995 Niall took up the role of Director Geology in the De Beers Moscow office.
In 1997 he joined Minorco as Manager in the Budapest Regional Exploration Office working on projects in Bulgaria, India and Yemen.
Niall returned to De Beers in 1999 when he established the London arm of the Groups’ Mineral Resource Evaluation Department at the renamed Diamond Trading Company. He moved to the De Beers Mineral Resource Management R&D Group in 2003 as Manager. In June 2006 he took over the role of General Manager, Mineral Resource Management for the De Beers Group of Companies.
As head of Mineral Resource Management, Niall provided leadership and effective management to the wider De Beers Group in differentiating skills for sampling, estimation and evaluation of the mineral resource base. He contributed to the formulation and delivery of strategic goals within De Beers Global Mining, advising on sales and acquisitions of mineral properties, projects and mines.
Niall is a founding partner of Kleingeld Young & Partners which provides independent advice, due diligence and assurance on all aspects of mineral resources and reserves.
Niall has significant understanding and experience of the international diamond market having been assigned to the Diamond Trading Company in London on two occasions. He contributed to a number of business and strategic initiatives out of London and was a major contributor to the Technical and Financial Report circular for shareholders during the privatisation of De Beers in 2001.
With diverse senior management roles including R&D, a wide variety of international assignments and experience on large international projects, Mantle are very pleased that Niall has agreed to become a Non-Executive director to the company.
