Tulani Sikwila
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Tulani Sikwila serves as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Namib Minerals. He has over 20 years of leadership experience spanning mining, finance, corporate strategy and business operations, and has been with Namib Minerals, Greenstone Corporation and its predecessor companies for over 19 years.
As Chief Executive Officer, Tulani leads the Company's strategic direction, operational execution and growth initiatives, overseeing the advancement of Namib Minerals' producing and development assets, capital allocation, financing strategy, and corporate governance. His deep understanding of the Company's operations and financial foundation has been instrumental in positioning Namib Minerals for its next phase of growth as a Nasdaq-listed company.
Prior to his appointment as Chief Executive Officer, Tulani served as Chief Financial Officer, where he led the Company's investment management, corporate finance, tax and compliance functions. He played a key role in financial planning, capital structure optimization, risk management, and the successful completion of Namib's June 2025 business combination with Hennessy Capital Investment Corp. VI and subsequent Nasdaq listing.
Before joining Namib Minerals, Tulani worked as an auditor at Ernst & Young in Zimbabwe.
Tulani is a Chartered Accountant of England and Wales and holds an Executive Master of Science in Finance from HEC Paris.
Sphesihle Mchunu
Chief Financial Officer and Director
Sphe has served as Chief Financial Officer of Namib Minerals since July 2026 and has been a Director of the Company since June 2025. He joined Namib Minerals, Greenstone Corporation and its predecessor companies as Group General Counsel in 2020.
As Chief Financial Officer, Sphe is responsible for the Company's financial strategy, capital allocation, financial reporting, treasury, investor-related financial matters and capital markets activities, supporting Namib Minerals' growth strategy across its producing and development assets.
Prior to his appointment as Chief Financial Officer, Sphe served as the Company's General Counsel, where he led the legal, regulatory and disclosure workstreams for Namib's June 2025 business combination with Hennessy Capital Investment Corp. VI and subsequent Nasdaq listing. He also oversaw regulatory compliance, corporate governance, risk management and corporate finance matters across the Group.
Before joining Namib Minerals, Sphe practised at leading South African law firms, including Hogan Lovells, advising clients across the mining, energy, infrastructure and corporate finance sectors. He has more than a decade of experience in corporate finance transactions, including rights issues, debt instruments and other capital markets transactions. He also serves as a Director of Standard Telecom Congo, a private company.
Sphe holds a Master of Laws in Commercial Law from the University of Cape Town and a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Johannesburg.
Tavepi Dafana
Country Managing Director
Tavepi serves as Country Managing Director for Namib Minerals’ Zimbabwe Operations. He has over 23 years of finance and leadership experience in the mining sector and has been with Namib Minerals and its predecessor companies since 2002, holding progressive leadership roles across the finance function, including Chief Accountant, Group Management Accountant, Finance Director, and Country Finance Director.
In his current role, Tavepi is responsible for the overall management of Zimbabwe operations, with oversight spanning mining performance, capital allocation, funding, procurement, and stakeholder engagement across How Mine, Redwing Mine, and Mazowe Mine. He has played a key role in the company’s NASDAQ listing process, capital raising activities, and operational growth across the portfolio.
Tavepi holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) in Accounting from the National University of Science and Technology (NUST) and is a Chartered Management Accountant (ACMA, CGMA) with the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants.
Renaud Houllé
VP Finance
Renaud joined Namib Minerals in 2025 as Vice President of Finance. He brings over 25 years of operational and financial expertise, including senior roles as Group CFO, audit with PwC and Deloitte, and extensive experience in M&A, financing, integrations, finance transformation, and restructuring.
He previously spent 16 years with a Nasdaq-listed company operating in Africa and Latin America, managing complex financial operations in emerging markets. At Namib, he leads financial strategy, reporting, capital planning, and compliance to support the company’s growth. Renaud graduated from ESSCA, is a Chartered Accountant of Luxembourg and a CFA charterholder, and is trilingual in English, French and Spanish.
Lamiaa Maniar Elaker
VP Communications
Lamiaa joined Namib Minerals in 2025 as Vice President of Communications, where she leads the company’s global communications, media relations, and stakeholder engagement. She brings over nine years of combined experience as a consultant in public relations and influence communications across Africa, Europe, and North America, and as a journalist with France 24.
She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, a Master’s degree in Public Affairs from Sciences Po Aix-en-Provence, and a Master’s degree in Influence & Lobbying from Université Paris-Est. Fluent in English, French, and Arabic, Lamiaa leverages her international expertise to strengthen Namib Minerals’ global reputation and engagement with investors, policymakers, and communities.
Antonio Nieto
VP Technical Services
With more than 25 years of global mining leadership, Tony is an internationally recognized expert in mining technology, innovation, and sustainability. He has held senior roles at FLSmidth, Gold Fields, Industrias Peñoles, and Mining3, and he authored The 5S Innovation Model for the Minerals Industry. Tony has served as Adjunct Professor of Mining Engineering at the University of Utah and held several prestigious academic appointments, including as Chair of the Minerals Resources and Reserves program at the University of the Witwatersrand, mentoring the next generation of mining engineers and integrating cutting-edge technologies, such as AI and blockchain, into the mining value chain. He holds a Ph.D. in Earth Systems and Mining Engineering and a Master of Science in Mining and Minerals Engineering from the Colorado School of Mines, a Master of Science in Geostatistics from Mines Paris – PSL, and a Bachelor of Science in Mining and Metallurgy Engineering from Universidad de Guanajuato.
Hannerietta R Choga
VP People & Culture
Hannerietta joined Namib Minerals in 2026 as Human Resources and Administration Executive and was subsequently appointed Vice President of People & Culture. She brings over 20 years of progressive human resources and corporate services leadership, including executive committee roles across mining, manufacturing, professional services, FMCG, hospitality, and agriculture, with extensive experience in culture transformation, performance management, organisational design, and business turnaround.
She previously served as Head of Human Resources at PPC Zimbabwe, Human Resources Executive at Padenga Holdings, and Head of Talent & Strategic Projects at Ernst & Young, where she led people strategy across Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Malawi. At Namib, she leads people strategy, talent and leadership development, reward governance, and corporate services, while championing the culture, CSR, and ESG agenda that underpins the company’s growth. Hannerietta holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) and a Bachelor of Commerce in Industrial and Organisational Psychology from the University of South Africa, completed the Executive Development Programme at the University of Stellenbosch Business School, and is a member of the Institute of People Management Zimbabwe (IPMZ), the South African Board for People Practices (SABPP), and the Institute of Directors in Southern Africa.
Mike Cross
Head of Technology Services
Mike is a senior technology executive with more than two decades of experience leading enterprise technology strategy across complex global industrial and mining environments. As Head of Technology Services at Namib Minerals, he is responsible for shaping the company’s technology vision and driving digital transformation to support operational excellence, security, and scalable growth.
Mike has extensive experience aligning technology with business strategy, building resilient global IT and operational technology platforms, and leading high-performing international teams. His expertise spans enterprise systems, cybersecurity, infrastructure, and global service delivery, enabling organizations to modernize operations and unlock measurable business value through technology.
Mike holds a Bachelor of Commerce in IT and Management from the Management College of Southern Africa (MANCOSA) and is a Chartered Chief Information Officer – South Africa (C-CIO (SA)).