Firestone Diamonds plc, the AIM-quoted diamond development company, today announces that Tim Wilkes, Executive Director, will step down from the Board, on 15 February 2014, to pursue other business interests.

His departure follows the successful leadership transition between himself and Stuart Brown, who was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Firestone on 1 December 2013. Mr Wilkes will be available to advise Firestone on an ad hoc consultancy basis.

Lucio Genovese, Non-Executive Chairman of Firestone, commented, "Having served over nine years with Firestone at the senior management level, which culminated in the appointment as CEO in March 2011, Tim is now moving on to pursue other business interests. On behalf of the Board and everyone at Firestone, I extend our sincere thanks to him for his relentless hard work and dedication to the Company. Tim played a pivotal part in Firestone's acquisition of Liqhobong, and has been instrumental in advancing the flagship asset to where it is today. We wish him all the very best in his future endeavours."