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EditorsAug 08, 2013
In to Africa
Recently, news surfaced that Mahair Borhanjoo, vice president of global sightholder sales for De Beers, has opted not to relocate when the company completes the move of its sales activities from London to Gaborone, Botswana this year.
The move, after all, is not just an issue of geography---London and Gaborone are 5,000 miles apart--but represents a significant change in lifestyle (not to even mention the weather.)
Will Varda Shine, the head of global sightholder sales, be relocating south of the equator?
De Beers spokeswoman Lynette Gould says yes, Shine will be moving to Gaborone in time for the first sight, which is scheduled to take place in November.
Gould also provided more figures on just how many of De Beers’ employees opted to make the move.
Once fully staffed, De Beers’ global sightholder sales division in Botswana will employ about 170 people.
Approximately 120 London-based staff were affected by the migration and more than 80, or roughly 67 percent of those 120 employees, have decided to make the move. Some are moving their entire families.
Botswana citizens will fill the remaining 90 or slots, meaning about 53 percent of De Beers workforce in Gaborone will be local, which Gould says is in line with De Beers’ beneficiation objectives.
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