Corporate - Directors

Algy Cluff, Chairman & Chief Executive. In 1972 Mr Cluff formed CCP to bid for North Sea oil licences in the UK sector and subsequently Cluff Oil Ltd, which acted as the management company for CCP. He then founded and was Chairman of Cluff Resources. From the early 1980s, Cluff Resources began to focus on mineral exploration in Africa and made several significant discoveries prior to its acquisition by Ashanti Goldfields Company Limited in 1996.

In the same year, Mr Cluff co-founded Cluff Mining Limited (now Ridge Mining), which was admitted to AIM in May 2000. He was Chairman of that company until his resignation in May 2004 in order to give his full time attention to the Group which he established in November 2003. Amongst his outside interests, Mr Cluff is a governor of the Commonwealth Institute and of Stowe School.

Douglas Chikohora, MSc., MIMMM, Technical Director.  A Chartered Engineer with over 25 years’ experience in the mining industry. His experience covers rare earth minerals and base and precious metals with various companies including Cluff Resources, which he joined in 1987 and where he was in charge of the exploration and development of the Ayanfuri mine in Ghana. After the acquisition of Cluff Resources by Ashanti Goldfields Company Limited in 1996, Mr Chikohora joined Cluff Mining Limited (now Ridge Mining plc) in June 1996 before being appointed Managing Director of Cluff Mining (West Africa) Limited, responsible for its West African gold interests. He joined the Group in January 2004.

Eileen Carr, FCCA, MSc, Sloan, Finance Director and Joint Deputy Chairman.  A qualified accountant with over 25 years’ experience in finance within the resource sector. She attended the London Sloan Fellows Programme at London Business School where she completed a Master of Science in Management. She was previously the Finance Director of Cluff Resources until that company was acquired by Ashanti Goldfields in 1996, after which she continued to work for the parent company. She also worked for the commodities trading house, Marc Rich (now Glencore), on their Russian projects and has held various corporate finance roles in other resources companies. She was the Finance Director of Monterrico Metals plc and the Chief Finance Officer of Alexander Mining plc. Ms Carr is also a non-executive director of Goldstar Resources NL of Australia and Talvivaara Mining Limited, a Finnish nickel company listed on the main board of the London Stock Exchange. She joined the Group in November 2003. 

Nicholas Berry, Non-Executive Joint Deputy Chairman. The controlling shareholder and chairman of Stancroft Trust Ltd and Intersport Switzerland, AG., and a director of Mintel Ltd which is controlled by his family interests. Mr Berry is also a non-executive director of Daily Mail and General Trust plc, Expomedia PLC and Fleming Mercantile Investment Trust plc. He joined the Group in November 2004. 

Bobby Danchin, BSc, MSc, Non-Executive.  A geologist and chemist. He retired from Anglo American plc where he was chief executive officer of the exploration and acquisition division and Group deputy technical director (Geology). He was an Executive Director of the Anglo American Corporation of South Africa. From 1981 to 1996 he was exploration manager of the De Beers Australian subsidiary, Stockdale Prospecting. He is non-executive Chairman of Gravity Diamonds Limited, and non-executive director of Gold Mines of Algeria plc and Mineral Deposits Limited. He is also a past director of Geosciences South Africa and a current member of the CSIRO Mineral Resources Sector Advisory Council. He joined the Group in May 2004. 

Tim Wadeson, FIMMM, PEng, ACSM, Non-Executive. A mining engineer whose career has been spent in the mining industry, mainly with the Anglo American Group. He was CEO of Konkola Copper Mines, Zambia from 2000 to 2001, Group technical director of Anglo American Corporation from 1994 to 1999, and technical director of Minorco SA from 1989 to 1993. He is a non-executive director of Highland Gold Mining Limited. He joined the Group in May 2004.

Peter Cowley, B.Sc, M.Sc, FIMMM and M.B.A. Non-Executive. Mr Cowley has 38 years' international experience in the minerals industry, mainly in Africa. Mr Cowley is also a director of Banro Corporation ('Banro'), the Canadian-based gold exploration company where he set up and directed Banro's successful exploration projects in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Prior to joining Banro in June 2004, Mr Cowley spent eight years as Managing Director of Ashanti Exploration Limited, the exploration arm of Ashanti Goldfields Company Limited before it was acquired by AngloGold in June 2004 to form AngloGold Ashanti. Preceding this' Mr Cowley worked for seven years as Group Technical Director of Cluff Resources Limited. He joined the group in January 2008.

Last updated: 2008/05/06 02:05:21 PM