JAMES Campbell, who is currently General Mine Manager in De Beers’ Global Mining and Exploration Group, is leaving De Beers to join the competition.
He is the third senior manager to leave De Beers in the last two months.

Campbell joins African Diamonds as managing director as off December 1, 2006. He will also take up the position of executive deputy chairman of West African Diamonds plc which plans to list on AIM in early December.

Last month, De Beers’ Group Manager of Exploration Bill McKechnie announced he will be taking early retirement as of December 31, 2006.

De Beers’ Director of Mining and Exploration, Ed Dowling, will also be leaving the South African diamond company

In addition, Ollie Oliveira, Corporate Finance Director of De Beers, will be retiring at the end of February 2007. Oliviera also serves on the board and executive committee of Luxembourg-based De Beers sa.