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 plc. 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.

Peter Spivey, BSc, Chief Operating Officer. A metallurgist and an experienced mine developer and operator with nearly 30 years' experience. He was previously chief operating officer of Mineral Deposits Limited, and was responsible for developing the Sabodala Gold Mine and pre-development of the Grande Côte Mineral sands projects in Senegal.  Since 1998 he has held a variety of senior positions in Indonesia, Tanzania and Senegal.  Mr Spivey is based in West Africa, where he splits his times between the Group's three projects; he travels to London when required.

Peter Gardner, ACA, Finance Director.  Previously chief finance officer for Alexander Mining plc and corporate finance manager at PKF (UK) LLP, he is a qualified chartered accountant with a breadth of experience in financial management and corporate finance in the natural resources sector.  Since joining the Group, he has implemented a number of improvements to the financial reporting systems and procedures.  Based in the London office, he travels to West Africa when required. 

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 the Daily Mail and General 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 a non-executive director of Mineral Deposits Limited. He is also a past director of Geosciences South Africa and GMA Resources Plc 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 was a non-executive director of Highland Gold Mining Limited from 2004 to 2008 and of Mwana Africa plc from 2004 to 2007. 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 non - executive 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.

Ronald Winston, Non-executive Director. Mr. Winston joined the Board of Directors in October 2008 and is the Chairman of Baomahun Gold Limited, the Sierra Leone based wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company which holds the mining lease.  Mr. Winston, who is now the Honorary Chairman of Harry Winston Diamonds Inc. (NYSE: HWD), has over thirty years of experience in building and running a major commercial enterprise, along with a wide range of experience in Africa and Sierra Leone in particular.

Geoff Stanley, Non-Executive Director. Mr. Stanley has 26 years international experience in the minerals industry. He holds a B.SC ( Honours) and is a Fellow of A.I.M.M and S.E.G. Mr Stanley started his career in exploration with Billiton Australia, the moved to become a Gold Analyst with a number of securities firms in Australia before being appointed at S.G Warburg in New York in 1994, J.B.Were Ltd in 1996 and BMO Capital Markets ("BMO") in 1998 with responsibility for managing a team working on commodities and equities research and recommendations for institutional investors, particularly in the precious metals markets. In 2007, Mr. Stanley was recruited to manage a long-short value arbitrage portfolio of precious mineral stocks for Platinum Partners. Since March 2008, Mr. Stanley has been involved in corporate advisory and investment activity in the minerals industry. Mr. Stanley is a director of Crescent Gold Limited, Riverfield Capital Limited, CGS Capital Limited,  and Bannerman Resources Limited. Mr. Stanley was appointed to the Board in October2008.

Last updated: 2010/07/26 04:48:44 PM