De Beers on Friday announced several executive-level changes: The following persons have been appointed to the De Beers Group Executive Committee:

* Bruce Cleaver has been named Group Director–Commercial and Legal. The appointment will take effect Sept. 15. He is currently a senior corporate partner at Webber Wentzel Bowens, where he has practiced in all areas of corporate and competition law. He was the lead WWB partner advising on the three largest corporate transactions in South African history: the privatization and de-listing of De Beers in 2001, the disposal by Philip Morris of its Miller Brewing business to SAB, and Barclays’ recent acquisition of 60% of ABSA.

* Stephen Lussier has been named Director of External and Corporate Affairs. The appointment takes effect immediately. He will be responsible for leading communications strategies and external relationship development across the full spectrum of De Beers’ stakeholders. His responsibilities will include Group-wide communications strategy, Media Relations, and External Affairs. Until the appointment, Lussier was executive director for marketing at the Diamond Trading Company, De Beers’ London-based marketing arm, and has held several senior positions within the group promoting diamond jewelry since 1985.

* Varda Shine, currently sales director for the DTC, has been named Managing Director Designate of the DTC. Shine will be taking up her new duties early in 2006, concurrent with Gareth Penny’s move to Managing Director of the De Beers Group. She originally joined De Beers at Diamdel—Israel in 1983. She proceeded through a series of professional and managerial roles in Israel before transferring to London in 1997.

* Leon Smith, currently HR Director for the DRC, will succeed Craig Mudge as Group Human Resources Director, effective Sept. 15. Smith joined Anglo American Corp. in 1988 at the Free State Saaiplaas Mine and transferred to De Beers in 1990 where he progressed through a series of professional and management positions.

Smith replaces Craig Mudge, who plans to retire Sept. 15. Mudge’s retirement was made public by De Beers on Friday. Mudge came out of retirement in 2002 to establish the role of Group HR Director, where he was instrumental in strengthening the Group’s management processes and leadership pipeline during his time at De Beers.

Also retiring Sept. 15 is Glenn Turner, De Beers Group general counsel. Turner was appointed to the position in May 2002 and “has achieved many important legal compliance milestones” for De Beers, “as well as the creation of a high-class legal team within De Beers in London, Johannesburg, and Kimberley.” De Beers will retain Turner as a legal consultant.

JCK