Brian Menell
Brian Menell is a South African businessman with interests in Mining, Oil & Gas, Agriculture & Agri Industry, and Banking.
He is the Chief Executive Officer of the Kemet Group,[1] which invests in and manages mining and other natural resource projects across the African continent, and advises certain African governments on resource policy and major transactions. He also serves as Chief Executive of Tinco Investments Limited[2] (an integrated Tin and Tungsten producer), and is a Director and Chairman of Shore Gold Inc.,[3] one of Canada's largest diamond exploration companies. He is the Chairman of Halldor Seafood Ltd (an Icelandic Fisheries and fish processing company), and the Chairman of Agricor Ltd (an African fertiliser and feedstock company).
Menell was previously a principal and Executive Director of Anglovaal Mining (Pty) Ltd., with extensive precious metal, base metal, ferrous metal and diamond interests across Southern Africa. Prior to joining his family controlled Anglovaal Group, he worked for the De Beers Group in London, Antwerp and Windhoek. In 2004 he became a founding partner and Executive Director of the A1 Grand Prix auto racing series.[4] He is a former Chairman of Energem Resources Inc. and a former Chairman of First Africa Oil Plc.
He has been extensively quoted in publications such as the Financial Times as an expert on the diamond industry, African resources, African politics, and Resource Nationalism. He has also appeared on Sky News and BBC World Service. He has been a speaker at The Times CEO SummitPart 1Part 2, The Mines and Money ConferencePart 1Part 2, and The New York Africa Forum.
History
His grandfather, Slip Menell, was the co-founder in 1932 of the Anglovaal Group, one of South Africa's largest diversified mining and industrial groups of companies. His father was the noted philanthropist and businessman, Clive Menell, who died in 1996; President Nelson Mandela gave the address at his memorial service in Johannesburg.[5] Brian Menell and his brother Rick retained control of Anglovaal Mining until its sale in 2001 to create the largest South African empowerment controlled company, African Rainbow Minerals.