Debswana Diamond Company the Botswana-based diamond mining joint venture between the Government of the Republic of Botswana and De Beers Group, today announced the appointment of Andrew Maatla Motsomi as Managing Director on a five-year contract, with effect from 1 June 2022. Motsomi will join Debswana from the Bank of Botswana, where he held several key strategic and leadership positions, most recently as Deputy Governor of the Bank. Motsomi will succeed Lynette Armstrong, who had been acting in the role since August 2019, following the passing of the previous Debswana Managing Director, Albert Milton, and had continued to lead the business during the Covid-19 pandemic. Armstrong will work closely with Motsomi in the immediate future to support a seamless transition of leadership. Bruce Cleaver, CEO of De Beers Group and Chairman of the Debswana Board, said, “Andrew Motsomi’s leadership and strategic insight, honed over a long and distinguished career with the Bank of Botswana, will be fundamentally important in helping Debswana continue to deliver outstanding value, both for the people of Botswana and for De Beers Group.

Motsomi holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and Accounting from the University of Botswana, a post-graduate Diploma in Economic Development and Planning from the African Institute for Economic Development and Planning, and a Master’s Degree in Economics from the Victoria University of Manchester.