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Benoit La Salle, FCPA, FCA, MBA
Director and Chairman of the Board
Mr. La Salle, FCPA, FCA, has 20 years of experience in the development and operation of mining projects in West Africa. In 1995, he founded Canadian based SEMAFO Inc. (TSX, OMX: SMF), a successful gold producer in West Africa. In October 2012, he was appointed Chairman of the Board of The Canadian Council on Africa. In 1980, Mr. La Salle founded Grou, La Salle and Associates Inc., Chartered Accountants. He has served on the boards of several public companies and is the former Chairman of the Board of Plan International Canada, one of the world’s largest non-governmental organizations. Mr. La Salle is a Fellow Chartered Accountant, a member of the Quebec Order of Chartered Accountants and the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants. Mr. La Salle holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from McGill University and a Master of Business Administration degree from IMEDE, Switzerland.
Marc Filion, Ph.D. MBA, Eng., ASC
Director
Marc Filion is a certified board director and company executive. He currently sits on a number of boards as chairman of the board or as an active audit and compensation, nominating and corporate governance committee member. A geological engineer by training, Dr. Filion exercised his technical skills in Canada and abroad while at the employ of SOQUEM, SNC-Lavalin and CHIM International for over 40 years. He was also the Chairman of SOQUEM from 1999 to 2006. Dr. Filion served as President and Chief Operating Officer of SGF Mineral Inc. from 1998 to 2004 and also as Senior Vice President, Investments for Mines, Minerals and Materials for SGF from 2004 to 2006. Recent assignments involved his expertise in bringing a graphite deposit into production in Asia and the development of an eco-friendly extractive metallurgical technology for nickel deposits. Dr. Filion has been active on numerous boards of small and large mines and metals companies and offers in-depth experience in the development and management of capital intensive world-class industrial projects in joint venture with international business partners.
Yves Grou CPA, CA
Director
Mr. Grou is a CPA CA, having received his Bachelor in Commerce degree from McGill University. He is a member of the Quebec Institute of Chartered Accountants. He was co-founder in 1980 and a partner until 2004 of Groupe Conseils Grou, La Salle, Inc. He developed a business valuation expertise, having several high-profile clients. At Groupe Conseils Grou, La Salle, Inc., Mr. Grou coordinated and led the reverse take-over process related to several public companies, having successfully completed several transactions with mining, oil and gas, telecommunications and medical devices companies of which some were located in France, Cuba, Thailand, West Africa and China. In 2004, Groupe Conseils Grou, La Salle, Inc. was sold to a major international accounting firm. Prior to 1980, Mr. Grou worked with Ernst & Young (Montreal) for three years. Mr. Grou is a member of the board of directors of several public companies, in natural resources, renewable energy and materials.
Abdoul Aziz Nassa
Director
Mr. Abdoul Aziz Nassa is Business Development Director at Coris Invest Group SA (CIG).
He is also General Manager, General Mining Logistics, a subsidiary of CIG. General Mining Logistics specialized in providing logistic services to West African mining companies.
Alhamdou Diagne
Director
Dr. Alhamdou Diagne, an officer of the French Legion of Honor, is a veterinary doctor, specialist in reproductive pathology and animal production in hot countries and tropical pathology. Dr. Diagne is a graduate of the Veterinary Academy of Ukraine (gynecological-obstetrics department), the ENVA of Maisons-Alfort in France (reproductive pathology and animal production and tropical veterinary medicine), the IEMVT (Institute of Veterinary Medicine of Tropical Countries for Tropical Pathology and Animal Production of Hot Countries), of the CES of Epidemiology (Institut Pasteur France), the London School of English and the Paris Center for Diplomatic and Strategic Studies in International Relations and expert in international investments). Dr. Diagne acts as President of D.A.-Consulting in Paris in the search for financing, business development, international investments and follow-up of consulting files. He is also an advisor to several Heads of State and governments, thanks to his strong experience and extensive relationship network in Africa. He is also a member of the Africa, Asia and Latin America committees of the Medef International of French employers. He collaborates in the opening of banks in Africa as well as in the mobilization of financing funds and investors for the energy mining infrastructure sectors
Vincent Benoit
Director
Mr. Benoit is a seasoned executive, with 30 years of corporate finance, business development and M&A experience in the mining, telecom, and energy sectors. He joined the La Mancha Capital Advisory as Head of Strategy & Business Development. Between 2013 and 2015, he led La Mancha’s portfolio restructuring and contributed to the enhancement of its mines performance in Australia and Africa. Vincent identified and executed the combinations with Evolution and Endeavour, which positioned La Mancha as a leading private investor in the gold mining sector. From 2016 to 2019, Vincent was CFO and EVP Corporate Development at Endeavour where he reshaped the strategy, improved the mine portfolio quality, and enhanced the balance sheet to fund the organic growth. Endeavour’s market capitalization was quadrupled by the time he left at the end of 2019. In early 2020, he re-joined La Mancha to oversee investments and fund raising. Previously, Vincent was at Orange (2006-2012) where he served as EVP M&A. He led the development of the group’s footprint in Africa and Europe and formed strategic partnerships with key European telecoms players. Prior to this, Vincent held various finance positions including with Orano (ex-Areva), Bull Information Systems and PwC. Vincent holds a MSc from Kedge Business School and is a Chartered Accountant.
OLIVIER COLOM
Director
Mr. Olivier Colom is a former French diplomat and diplomatic adviser to President Nicolas Sarkozy, with extensive experience of African
affairs. Mr. Colom helped to reform and deeply reshape France development aid strategy, financing and structure as his first
assignment in the French Foreign Office in 1998. He subsequently specialised in European Union affairs, mostly internal economic
and financial affairs, as well as common policies. Abroad, he served as chargé d’affaires in Oslo, before being seconded to the office
of UK Prime Minister Tony Blair in London in 2005/2006 during the UK Presidency of the EU and of the G8. He then served as political
adviser of the French embassy in the UK before joining the French President staff at the Elysee Palace in May 2007, in the positions
of diplomatic advisor and deputy G8 and G20 Sherpa, and eventually sherpa, to President Nicolas Sarkozy. Mr. Colom left public
service in 2012 and was appointed to the Edmond de Rothschild Group Executive Committee, occupying the positions of international
adviser and secretary general of the Wealth and Asset Management Group. He has been the Chairman of OC Advisory Ltd since the
end of 2016 with a strong focus on Africa, and held Independent Non Executive Board mandates at Endeavour Mining, Euronews and
others. Mr Olivier Colom is graduated from the Paris Institute of Political Studies (Sciences Po), holds a Master Degree in International
Law and is an alumni of the French National School of Government (Ecole Nationale d’Administration – ENA)