In the wake of concluding his six-year tenure as CEO in early 2023, Bruce Cleaver is stepping down from his position as co-chair of De Beers’ board of directors and resigning from the board of Element Six, the miner’s lab-grown diamond manufacturing subsidiary.
According to a spokesperson from De Beers, Cleaver’s decision is an integral component of the planned leadership transition to Al Cook, his appointed successor. Cleaver, who played a pivotal role in successfully concluding commercial negotiations with the government of the Republic of Botswana during his board tenure, has achieved the set objectives, prompting his resignation from both boards. Despite stepping down from these formal roles, Cleaver will maintain an advisory capacity within De Beers.
Duncan Wanblad, the CEO of De Beers’ parent company, Anglo American, will assume the position of sole chair of the miner’s board of directors in the wake of Cleaver’s departure. The leadership transition signifies a strategic move towards continued growth and development within the company, setting the stage for a new chapter under Al Cook’s leadership.
