De Beers appoints Bruce Cleaver as CEO

De Beers Group appointed Bruce Cleaver as CEO, following Philippe Mellier’s decision to step down after five years with the company. The appointment will take effect on 1 July 2016.

Bruce Cleaver served as De Beers’ executive director responsible for strategy and commercial relationships until 2015, also serving as Co-Acting CEO for a year prior to Philippe Mellier’s appointment in 2011. He was appointed Group Director of Strategy and Business Development for Anglo American in 2015.

Mark Cutifani, Chief Executive of Anglo American and Chairman of De Beers, said: “Together with our partners in De Beers, we congratulate Bruce Cleaver on his appointment as CEO of De Beers Group following Philippe Mellier's decision to step down. Bruce's leadership of De Beers' strategy and its commercial and government relationships working alongside Philippe and over much of the last decade, combined with his time working with us to shape the new Anglo American strategy, provide strong continuity at an important stage in the diamond market's recovery.”

He further added, “The structural dynamics of the diamond market continue to improve, led by the strength of consumer demand for diamond jewellery. With the proven management team in place, De Beers is well positioned to maximise value for all its stakeholders across the diamond value chain.”

Bruce Cleaver said, “As the world continues to evolve ever more rapidly, it is our task to ensure that we remain as relevant as we are today and to grow our position in the luxury world.

Bruce Cleaver further said, “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. My sincere thanks to Philippe – his innovative thinking, constant questioning of the status quo and desire to advance the agenda has benefited all of us, and I have thoroughly enjoyed working with him.”

Botswana’s Hon. Minister of Minerals, Energy and Water Resources, Onkokame Kitso Mokaila, said: “Philippe has made a significant contribution to the partnership between Botswana and De Beers, presiding over the relocation of De Beers’ global sales operations to Gaborone, along with delivering strategic change to how Debswana operates. I would like to thank him for his leadership during the last five years and wish him every success for the future. We congratulate Bruce on his appointment as CEO. Having worked with him personally for a number of years, he has a deep understanding of the sector and the important role diamonds play in socio-economic development, making him uniquely qualified to lead De Beers. We look forward to working with him in the next phase of the company’s exciting future.”

Mark Cutifani added: “Philippe has led De Beers with great agility, transforming the company’s strategic and operational mindset with a strong customer focus to ensure that consumer desire for diamond jewellery is at the very heart of decision making across the diamond pipeline. He has navigated through structural change and considerable market volatility over the last five years, while cementing De Beers’ unquestioned leadership position. We wish him all the very best in his future endeavours.”

Philippe Mellier said: “I have been privileged to lead such an iconic company as De Beers with its rich history, great people and culture, and truly unique product offering. As I committed at the outset in 2011, I envisaged a five year plan with the team and the Board to reset De Beers on its current path. 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. 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.”