Management

Niall has extensive international operational and corporate experience over 25 years with the Anglo American, Minorco and De Beers Group in southern Africa, North America, Eastern Europe and the Former Soviet Union.

A founding director of Kleingeld Young & Partners, he advised Mantle on the acquisition of Lerala and associated fund raising. Prior to his appointment as Mantle MD in September 2011, he was advising Qatar Mining, a sovereign wealth start-up in Qatar.

He has significant international and commercial experience gained in the Middle East, Africa, Far East and Europe in several business sectors including natural resources.

He was Finance Director of Kopane Diamond Developments Plc. and was previously Finance Director of Arian Silver Corporation where he has since served as a non-executive director for the last three years.

Lester graduated from the Royal School of Mines and has worked in a variety of minerals across several continents during his career.

Lester is co-founder of Mantle Diamonds Limited and London Africa Limited.

He has worked for a variety of companies including Anglo American Corporation of South Africa (Diamond Division), Auridiam Zimbabwe (Pty) Ltd, Reunion Mining (Zimbabwe) Pty Ltd, Delta Gold (Zimbabwe) Limited, African Mining Consultants, Mopani Copper Mines plc and more recently Metorex Limited.

He has over 20 years' experience across Africa and the major diamond markets of India and Antwerp.

He is the co-founder of Mantle Diamonds, London Africa and African Gold & Diamonds. He has an extensive network of high-net worth individuals and financial institutions with a long family history in mining.

Nathan was Group Financial Controller for Oxus Gold Plc prior to joining Mantle.

Previous employers include Diageo, HSBC (Investment Banking & Markets), GlaxoSmithKline and BHP Billiton (Boodarie Iron, South Headland).