De Beers Names New Directors
By Rob Bates, Senior Editor -- JCK-Jewelers Circular Keystone, 6/1/2002
De Beers Consolidated Mines has named five new board members—and at least two of them have interesting pedigrees.
Jonathan Oppenheimer, 33, is the fourth generation of his famed family to be involved in De Beers' higher echelons, and his appointment may be a sign the family dynasty will continue. Oppenheimer's father, Nicky, is the company's current chairman; his grandfather Harry and great-grandfather Ernest also headed the company.
Barbara Masakela is a former anti-apartheid activist who has held many prominent positions in the African National Congress, the political party that now rules South Africa. The sister of jazz trumpeter Hugh Masakela, she also served as South Africa's ambassador to France.
Also named to the board were John Hughes, De Beers' manager of producer relations; Bill McKechnie, group manager for exploration; and South African lawyer Glenn Turner.
