TSX-V-listed  Diamond Fields Resources (DFR) has appointed John McGloin as a director and CEO, effective January 1.

Current CEO Sybrand van der Spuy will assume the role of COO responsible for the logistics, supply chains and security of the Company’s projects throughout Africa.

McGloin brings a wealth of experience in the mining and exploration industry to the company. He was the chairperson and CEO of Amara Mining as it progressed the Yaoure project, in Côte d'Ivoire, from discovery through to feasibility study and oversaw a growth in the resource base from 200 000 oz to over six-million ounces. Subsequently, this project has gone on to be the cornerstone of Perseus Mining’s future growth following its acquisition of Amara Mining.

McGloin is a geologist and graduate of Camborne School of Mines and spent his early career as a geologist in Southern Africa before working across the continent within the mining industry and subsequently moving into consultancy.

He joined Arbuthnot Banking Group following four years at Evolution Securities as mining analyst. He is also the former Head of Mining at Collins Stewart. He has served as nonexecutive director on a number of mining and exploration companies listed in Toronto, New York and London. 

He will relinquish all of his current roles except for his nonexecutive directorships of Perseus Mining and Cornish Metals.

“We are delighted to have John as the new CEO of DFR. John is highly respected in the industry and has a strong record of creating value through the development of mining projects in Africa.

"He has the right mix of geological, financial and management skills to lead the development of the highly prospective Labola project in Burkina Faso that DFR is in the process of acquiring.

“I would also like to thank Sybie for his contributions to DFR as CEO and look forward to continuing to work with him in his new role as we enter the next stage in the company’s development,” comments DFR chairperson Al Gourley.

DFR owns exploration and mine development assets in Madagascar and Namibia. In Madagascar, it is developing the Beravina project, an advanced high-grade hard rock zircon exploration prospect. 

In Namibia, the company owns several offshore diamond mining licences, including the ML 111 concession, which has a ten-year mining licence, effective until December 4, 2025.

Further, DFR in August entered into definitive agreements to acquire privately owned Moydow Holdings, which holds interests in a number of West African gold exploration projects.