Botswana’s Okavango Diamond Company (ODC) has appointed an executive team, as it prepares for its commercial launch mid-next year.
ODC chairperson Jacob Thamage was quoted by Rapaport as saying that the appointments marked a significant step forward for the company.
“Our newest team members reflect the rich blend of national and international skills that we require to build a sustainable and globally competitive new diamond sales channel here in Botswana,” he said.
The former head of sales and marketing at De Beers Diamond Trading Company (DTC), Marcus ter Haar, was appointed deputy managing director.
Other appointments included positions of chief financial officer, sales manager operations manager, commercial manage, security manager and information technology manager.
“To have recruited such a high caliber team speaks volumes about the potential of ODC and the dynamic future of Botswana’s diamond industry,” said company managing director Toby Frears, who was also appointed to the position last August.
ODC was established last March following the 2011 agreement between De Beers and the government of Botswana to make a portion of Debswana’s production available for sale locally, independent of the DTC.
Botswana was entitled to 10 percent share of Debswana’s production beginning 2011 and this would increase by 1 percent each year until it reaches 15 percent in 2016.
However, Botswana was yet to claim its portion.
Mathew Nyaungwa, Editor in Chief of the African Bureau, Rough&Polished
