With more than 25 years’ experience in the diamond industry — including 19 with De Beers – Stuart Brown was looking for a new opportunity. He found it as the president and CEO of Mountain Province Diamonds (TSX: MPVD; NASDAQ: MPVD).
“I was quite excited by this,” he said. “I think the mine has good potential, because it’s just starting off. I thought I could add a lot of value with my prior relationship with De Beers.” Brown, whose last role at De Beers Group was as CFO and joint acting CEO, joined Mountain Province in May. It’s not a matter making changes to the company, but rather moving its production forward and extending the life of the mine.
Mountain Province owns 49% of the Gahcho Kué mine, which is 280 km northeast of Yellowknife. De Beers owns 51% and is the operator.
For Brown, it’s not a matter making changes to the company, but rather moving its production forward and extending the life of the mine.
“We are in our second year of commercial production, so we are still finding our feet as producers,” he said. “When I say producers, I’m talking about the Gahcho Kué mine. So, whether it’s De Beers operating it or us, we do this together.”
In the coming year, Brown wants to ensure that De Beers and Mountain Province are working towards the same goal.
“Our primary objective is to add the additional resources that we are currently discovering on the joint venture property,” he said.
Additional kimberlites have been found between 5034 and Hearne, and 5034 and Tuzo. These finds will be added to the draft mine plans, which will be published shortly.
“In the coming twelve months we want to do a lot more work...