Board and management

Board

Richard Linnell

Chairman

Mr Linnell has been active in the resources and metals fields for over forty years and has significant global experience in the development and marketing of resources and commodities. He was the originator of the Bakubang Initiative, a forum designed to revive the South African mining industry and which led to the establishment of the New Africa Mining Fund, of which he is Chairman of Trustees. He currently holds a number of other directorships.

Simon Farrell

Deputy chairman

Mr Farrell has a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Western Australia and an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. He has held a number of senior management and board positions in the resources sector over the past 20 years. He is currently a director of LSE-listed Kenmare Resources plc.

John Wallington

Chief executive officer

Mr Wallington holds a BSc in Mining Engineering from the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa and has participated in executive programmes at both the London and Harvard business schools. Mr Wallington has 30 years’ experience in the coal exploration and mining industry. Prior to joining Coal of Africa, Mr Wallington held the position of global chief executive for the Anglo Coal division of Anglo American plc. Mr Wallington has also held board positions with Firestone Energy Ltd and Keaton Energy Holdings Limited.

Wayne Koonin

Financial director

Mr Koonin is a qualified chartered Accountant (South Africa) and holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting) and a Bachelor of Accounting (Honours) degree, both from the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa. Over the past 12 years Mr Koonin has gained extensive international experience working in senior financial roles for Canadian, South African, British and Swiss based exploration, development and operating mining companies, covering a variety of commodities, including coal.

Alfred Nevhutanda

Executive director

Professor Nevhutanda holds two PhD degrees (Educational Environment and Arts Culture), a Diploma in Management Studies and an MBA. He has been actively involved in a number of diversified businesses. His areas of competency include corporate governance, strategic planning and leadership. Professor Nevhutanda is best known for his public commentary on good governance and business ethics. He has acted as an advisor to the King of Vha Venda, Government Ministers and Members of Executive Council of the ruling party (ANC).

David Murray

Senior independent non-executive director

Mr Murray holds a Bachelor of Science Degree (Civil Engineering) from the University of KwaZulu-Natal and a Post Graduate Diploma in Mining Engineering from the University of Pretoria. He has also completed the Advanced Executive Program from the University of South Africa. Mr Murray has held a number of senior positions in the global coal industry, including managing director of Ingwe Coal Corporation (formerly Trans-Natal Coal Corporation Limited), chief executive of BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance and President of Energy Coal Sector Group at BHP Billiton Limited, a position he held until December 2009.

Steve Bywater

Non-executive director

Mr Bywater has a B.Sc. in Engineering Geology and Geotechnics from Portsmouth University and an M.Sc. in Rock Mechanics and Excavation Engineering from Newcastle-upon-Tyne university. Mr Bywater has a distinguished career in the resources industry having developed and operated a total of 14 large-scale open pit mining operations. When working for Rio Tinto Coal Australia, he was chief operations officer, and in this position oversaw seven mining operations, producing 60 million tonnes of saleable coal a year. He is also chief executive of GCM resources plc.

Peter Cordin

Non-executive director

Mr Cordin has a Bachelor of Engineering from the University of Western Australia and is well experienced in the evaluation, development and operation of resource projects within Australia and overseas. He is the managing director of ASX-listed Dragon Mining Limited.

Khomotso Mosehla

Non-executive director

Mr Mosehla holds a BCompt (Hons), CTA, CA (SA). After serving articles at KPMG, Mr Mosehla worked for five years at African Merchant Bank Limited, where he gained a broad range of experience, including MBO, LBO and capital restructuring/raising transactions. In 2003, he established Mvelaphanda Corporate Finance, for the development of Mvelaphanda’s mining and non-mining interests. Mr Mosehla has served as a director on the boards of several companies, including Mvelaphanda Resources Limited, and he is currently the chief executive officer of Mosomo Investment Holdings (Pty) Ltd.

Mikki Xayiya

Non-executive director

With a BA (Unisa), Certficate of Defence Management (Wits), and having completed the Emerging Market Leadership Programme (University of Pennsylvania), Mr Xayiya has served in various capacities in the African National Congress since 1977. In 1995, he was appointed as a policy advisor in the Office of the Premier, Gauteng Provincial Government. After leaving public office he joined Mawenzi Asset Managers as managing director. In 1998 he co-founded Mvelaphanda Holdings. Mr Xayiya was appointed as executive chairman of Mvelaphanda Holdings with effect from 9 June 2009. He also serves on the board of Northam Platinum Limited in a non-executive capacity.

Rudolph Torlage

Non-executive director

Mr Torlage (BCompt (Hons), CTA, CA (SA)) is a chartered accountant with more than 20 years’ experience with ArcelorMittal South Africa. He is currently executive director of finance and a board member of various unlisted ArcelorMittal Group companies.