CatalystWireBeta

Board and Senior Management Changes

In brief · summary, not quotable

Petra Diamonds Limited has announced significant board and senior management changes following its Annual General Meeting, appointing Kushal Kumar as a Non-Executive Director with extensive financial markets experience, though he is not considered independent due to his role at Kyma Capital, a major shareholder. Bernard Pryor, Senior Non-Executive Director, and Alex Watson, Board Observer, have departed. Lerato Molebatsi is now Senior Independent Non-Executive Director, and José Manuel Vargas will chair both the Nomination and Remuneration Committees. Furthermore, Vivek Gadodia and Juan Kemp have been permanently appointed as Joint Chief Executive Officers, with Gadodia focusing on corporate matters and Kemp on operations, aiming to unlock stakeholder value.

Full announcement

Select text to share a quote on X · sign in to keep highlights & notes in your PDL notes

28 November 2025LSE: PDL

Petra Diamonds Limited

("Petra", or the "Company")

Board and Senior Management Changes

Petra today announces a series of changes to the Company's Board following the Company's recent Annual General Meeting (the "AGM"), held on 27 November 2025, and the appointment of Vivek Gadodia and Juan Kemp as permanent Joint Chief Executive Officers of the Company.

Appointment of new Non-Executive Director

Following shareholder approval of Resolution 9 at the AGM, Mr Kushal Kumar was appointed to the Board as a Non-Executive Director of the Company with immediate effect.

Mr Kumar has over 30 years' experience in the international financial markets across Investment Management, Credit Markets and Corporate Banking. This included Lehman Brothers in London (European Credit Markets, April 2001- January 2008), JP Morgan & Bank of America in Hong Kong (Asian Bond and Loan markets, 1997-2001) and American Express Bank in India (Corporate Banking for India and Indonesia, 1993-1997).

In 2008, he co-founded Numen Capital LLP which managed investments into European Special Situations and co-managed this until 2015 when he sold his stake in the business. Additionally, he operates as a private investor where he is engaged either as a board member and/or as an active shareholder at several UK/European early-stage companies across challenger banks and IP-based engineering ventures being spun out of UK universities.

He is currently active on the advisory board for UK-based asset managers and a UHNWI family office. He is also involved in developing and growing an algorithmic oriented business for Investment Management into liquid asset classes.

Mr Kumar is also a member of the Kyma Capital Limited Advisory Board. Kyma Capital is a major holder of both the Company's bonds and shares, and therefore by virtue of his role at Kyma Capital, Mr Kumar is not considered independent.

Departure of Bernard Pryor and Alex Watson

As announced on 20 November 2025, Bernard Pryor, Senior Non-Executive Director, Chair of the Nomination and Remuneration Committees has resigned in order to focus time on his executive roles.

Alex Watson has stepped down from the Board in her role as Board Observer.

As a result of these changes, new appointments will be made as below:

  • Senior Independent Non-Executive Director: With effect from 27 November 2025 Lerato Molebatsi is Senior Independent Non-Executive Director.
  • Remuneration Committee Chair: With effect from 27 November 2025 José Manuel Vargas is Chair of the Remuneration Committee.
  • Nomination Committee Chair: With effect from 27 November 2025 José Manuel Vargas is Chair of the Nomination Committee.

Appointment of Vivek Gadodia and Juan Kemp as Joint Chief Executive Officers

Having taken on the role of joint interim Chief Executive Officers in February of this year, Vivek Gadodia and Juan Kemp will continue in their roles in a permanent capacity, with Vivek focusing on the corporate side of the business, and Juan on operations. They have not been appointed as Directors of the Company and will continue to report to the Board on a regular basis

José Manuel Vargas, Non-Executive Chair of Petra Diamonds commented:

"I would like to welcome Kushal to the Board of Petra; we believe his experience and skill set will complement those of our existing Directors as we look to take the Company forward.

On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank Bernie for his contributions and the insight he has provided from his extensive mining and resource experience in the variety of positions he held on the Board over the last six years. We wish him the very best for the future.

I would also like to thank Alex, whose input between July 2021 and December 2023 as a Non-Executive Director was highly valued as the Company navigated several challenges, and who continued to provide valuable guidance as a Board Observer from December 2023 to date. We wish her all the best.

Lastly, we are very pleased to have secured stability at the helm of the Company with the permanent positions of Vivek Gadodia and Juan Kemp as Joint Chief Executive Officers. We look forward to working with them as we look towards the delivery of our next strategic targets."

Vivek Gadodia and Juan Kemp, Joint Chief Executive Officers of Petra Diamonds commented:

"Over the last nine months we have delivered a streamlined, more resilient business as we looked to execute the refinancing of the Company. We look forward to steering the Company on a permanent basis as we continue our focus on the execution of our extension projects as we look to unlock value for our stakeholders in the short to medium term.

We will continue to report to the Board on a regular basis. We would like to thank both Bernie and Alex for their continued support and insights as we have navigated this difficult period, and look forward to working with the Board in its new structure and with the addition of Kushal Kumar's experience"

~ Ends ~

4273990_0.jpeg

Cleaned text: letterheads, contacts and legal notices removed. View the original announcement ↗ · Company filings. Not investment advice.

Share this quote

Quote card
Post on X WhatsApp Download image

The link opens this announcement with the quote highlighted. Quotes are checked against the original text.

Add a note