Gem Diamonds appoints new non-executive director

The board of global diamond producer Gem Diamonds has appointed Janet Blas as an independent non-executive director, effective 1 April 2024.

This announcement follows the planned retirement of Michael Lynch-Bell, the current senior independent non-executive director, who will step down from the board on 31 March 2025 after nine years, in accordance with UK Corporate Governance principles.

Blas will be proposed for election as a non-executive director at the company’s annual general meeting on 4 June 2025.

She will also be appointed as audit committee chair and a member of the Remuneration Committee.
Blas has extensive experience in the gemstone and mining industries and holds a certified public accountant qualification, complemented by a BSc in Accountancy.

She began her career with PwC, building a technical foundation in financial management and audit practices. She has established herself as an effective Audit and Risk Committee chair, demonstrating a deep understanding of governance practices in both listed and privately held mining companies.

Currently, Blas holds non-executive board roles with Sedibelo Resources and Cornish Lithium, alongside her executive position as chief financial officer and director of Bacanora Lithium.

All these companies are privately held. Her previous tenure as chief financial officer at Gemfields Group has provided her with a comprehensive understanding of the complexities and strategic demands of the precious minerals sector.

Blas also held a number of senior positions with ENRC Plc (August 2007 to July 2013), including a key role in ENRC’s initial public offering on the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange when the company joined the FTSE 100 index.

Previously, Janet was part of the Audit and Assurance Services Team at Ernst and Young LLP in London and PWC in the Philippines (2002 to 2007).

She is recognised for her strong board governance experience, consistently implementing effective financial oversight structures.

Gem Diamonds stated that her career has predominantly focused on the mining industry, where she has developed “in-depth sector expertise across various commodities and established a proven track record leading teams across multiple jurisdictions”.

Additionally, she has been actively involved in integrating ESG principles into operations, emphasising ethical mining practices, transparency, and community engagement.

Alongside Blas, the board also appointed Rosalind Kainyah, non-executive director as the senior independent director and chair of the Remuneration Committee with effect from 1 April 2025.

Harry Kenyon-Slaney, chair of Gem Diamonds, said: “On behalf of the whole board, I would like to express my sincere thanks to Michael for the significant contribution, insights and experience he has brought to his role as a board committee member, chair of the Audit and Remuneration Committees and senior independent director. Michael has been with us since 2015 and his financial experience in the resources sector has been very valuable to the company. We wish Michael well in his retirement.

“I am delighted to welcome Janet Blas onto the board. Janet has a wealth of finance and resource sector experience, and we look forward to the wisdom and insight that she will bring to our discussions.”