David Lenigas, Executive Chairman
David Lenigas holds a Bachelor of Applied Science in Mining Engineering. He has extensive experience operating in the public company environment and is currently the Chairman of LonZim Plc, Leni Gas & Oil Plc, Templar Minerals Limited, Solo Oil Plc and Lonrho Mining Limited and is an Executive Director of Vatukoula Gold Mines Plc and a Non Executive Deirector of Zest Group.
Geoffrey White, Director & Chief Executive Officer
Geoffrey White holds a BSc in Economics and Management Science. During his 28 year career he has held senior management roles with Thomas Tilling Plc, BTR Plc, Dee Corporation Plc, Asda Plc and latterly worked for five years for a private investment fund based in London. He has been responsible for the planning, financing, development and management of a range of projects in the leisure, industrial and natural resource sectors. These projects include establishing joint ventures with international corporations such as Hilton Hotels International, Ford Motors (PAG), Praton International GmbH and FFS Refiners (pty) Ltd. He is also an Executive Director of LonZim Plc.
David Armstrong, Finance Director
David Armstrong (FCA) brings with him extensive experience of operating across Africa having been, until October 2004, the Commercial Director of Diageo Africa with combined functional responsibility for finance, information systems, strategy and business development. He contributed to the successful deployment of Diageo’s pan-African growth strategy, encompassing over 50 countries. More recently, he has been the COO of McArtherGlen in the UK and Europe. He is also Finance Director of Lonzim Plc.
Emma Priestley, Executive Director
Emma Priestley worked in investment banking for 5 years following a career as a mining engineer. She has a background in mining and financial services having worked with consultants IMC Mackay & Schnellman, investment bank CSFB, advisors VSA resources and Ambrian Partners, where she worked as a corporate broker and advisor. Emma is a graduate of Camborne School of Mines, a Chartered Mining Engineer and Chartered Mineral Surveyor. She is also an Executive Director of LonZim Plc.
Ambassador Frances Cook, Non-Executive Director
A former U.S. ambassador to Burundi, to Cameroon and to the Sultanate of Oman, Ambassador Cook also held numerous senior positions in the Department of State, including Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Refugee Programs, and Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs, Consul General in Alexandria, Egypt, and Director for West Africa. She transitioned to the private sector in May 1999, where she runs an international business consulting firm, The Ballard Group llc. Ambassador Cook currently serves on the boards of Alliant Techsystems (NYSE) and Global Options Group (NASDAQ), and the Corporate Council on Africa. She is a Senior Fellow at the Center for Naval Analyses, and a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. She was educated at the Universities of Virginia and Harvard, and resides in Washington, D.C
Jean Ellis, Non-Executive Director
Jean Ellis is a Chartered Accountant and Chartered Tax Advisor, and holds an Insolvency Practitioner's licence. She is the senior partner in the regional firm of Chartered Accountants, Duncan Sheard Glass, having been a partner there since 2002. Prior to this, she was Group Financial Controller and Tax Manager with Lonrho Plc and holds a number of directorships for its subsidiary companies. Jean has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Pure Mathematics from Liverpool University. She was formerly Finance Director of Lonrho Plc and Lonzim Plc and is currently a Non-Executive Director of Lonzim Plc.