The Team
The Pallinghurst Group have a unique, experienced senior management team with a multifaceted skillset including the development of mining companies, private equity as well as finance and corporate development.
We have a proven track record and an in-depth industry knowledge of assets, companies, people and trends. As a team, we pride ourselves on being recognised for our strategic insight and vision, decades of value creation, being highly regarded by international investors, and our trademark of pioneering innovative and sustainable transactions.
Since our formation over 15 years ago, The Pallinghurst Group’s ethos has been built on integrity, sustainability, teamwork and leadership. Through those four pillars, The Pallinghurst Group is focused on providing its investors with superior and sustainable returns.
Our four partners are Arne H. Frandsen and Andrew Willis, the Managing Partners, Chris Shepherd, Partner and Managing Director and Chris Powell, Partner and Chief Financial Officer.
The Partners provide The Pallinghurst Group with leadership and strategic guidance as well as hands-on management and execution oversight. As a team, the Partners have complementary skills and experience providing a unique skillset which in turn unlocks and maximises the potential of its portfolio companies. Through a unique hands-on approach, the Pallinghurst Team provides management and oversight which in turn maximises value for the benefit of all our stakeholders.
The Partners are supported by an experienced team of the highest calibre professionals. The complementary skills of the professional individuals of the Pallinghurst Team, provides a complete knowledge base which enables us to do our asset evaluations, deal execution as well as ongoing management in house.
In addition to its core team, Pallinghurst has identified a group of highly qualified senior mining professionals as well as experienced financial managers, who will be available to become direct employees of the companies Pallinghurst invests in – if and when such needs are required.
Headquartered in London with additional offices in Canada and Guernsey.
Partners

Arne H. Frandsen
Having studied Law in Europe, Africa and Asia, Arne Frandsen holds a Masters in Law. Arne has over ten years’ of investment banking experience with Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan, providing strategic advice and structuring mergers and acquisitions as well as corporate finance transactions for clients in 30 different countries, raising in excess of US$20 billion of capital.
Arne H. Frandsen
Co-founder & Managing Partner
Having studied Law in Europe, Africa and Asia, Arne Frandsen holds a Masters in Law. Arne has over ten years’ of investment banking experience with Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan, providing strategic advice and structuring mergers and acquisitions as well as corporate finance transactions for clients in 30 different countries, raising in excess of US$20 billion of capital.
Arne joined The Pallinghurst Group in 2006 and is a Managing Partner as well as the Chairman of Sedibelo Platinum Mines, Chairman of Nouveau Monde Graphite and member of the Board of Directors of Nemaska Lithium – The Pallinghurst Group holds investments in all of these companies.

Andrew Willis
Andrew Willis has over 15 years’ experience in international finance, structuring and private equity. He started his professional career as an accountant in New Zealand and after moving to Europe spent three years with pan-European private equity investment manager Candover Investments.
Andrew Willis
Co-founder & Managing Partner
Andrew Willis has over 15 years’ experience in international finance, structuring and private equity. He started his professional career as an accountant in New Zealand and after moving to Europe spent three years with pan-European private equity investment manager Candover Investments.
Andrew studied at INSEAD and was awarded an MBA before joining The Pallinghurst Group in 2006 and is a Managing Partner, as well as a director of Sedibelo Platinum Mines, and a member of the Board of Directors of Nemaska Lithium.

Christopher Shepherd
Chris Shepherd joined Pallinghurst in 2010 and has 20 years’ experience in international finance, investment banking and private equity. He is a former investment banker and has extensive experience in transaction origination, structuring and execution in the mining sector.
Christopher Shepherd
Partner and Managing Director
Chris Shepherd joined Pallinghurst in 2010 and has 20 years’ experience in international finance, investment banking and private equity. He is a former investment banker and has extensive experience in transaction origination, structuring and execution in the mining sector.
Chris is a Chartered Accountant and prior to joining Pallinghurst, Chris worked for Deutsche Bank, Merrill Lynch and KPMG Corporate Finance. Chris is also a director of Nouveau Monde Graphite, in which Pallinghurst is an investor.

Chris Powell
Chris Powell is a British citizen with more than 20 years of experience in accounting, resource finance, investment management and private equity. He has worked for a number of leading multinational companies, active in various sectors. He earned a Master of Arts degree in Modern European History as well as a Bachelor’s degree in History from the University of Manchester.
Chris Powell
Partner and Chief Financial Officer
Chris Powell is a British citizen with more than 20 years of experience in accounting, resource finance, investment management and private equity. He has worked for a number of leading multinational companies, active in various sectors. He earned a Master of Arts degree in Modern European History as well as a Bachelor’s degree in History from the University of Manchester. In addition, Chris holds a Chartered Accountant qualification (ACA) fromThe Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW).
Chris started his career as an Audit Manager at Deloitte, where for four years, he gained extensive experience in auditing and applying IFRS and UK GAAP. This was followed by another four years at the leading natural resources company, Anglo American plc, where he worked as a Senior Financial Reporting Accountant with specific responsibility for resolution of IFRS issues and consolidated data.
In 2008, Chris joined The Pallinghurst Group as the Group Financial Controller, heading up the Finance Department of the Group, with a team of seven accountants (Chartered Accountants or equivalent). He managed the Finance Department, including investor reporting, statutory accounts for over 100 legal entities, budgeting, compliance and FCA reporting, record keeping, payroll, as well as general senior management duties.
In 2015, Chris joint LetterOne, a privately-owned global investment group with approximately US$22 billion of assets under management, predominantly in the technology, energy, retail and healthcare sectors. As the CFO of LetterOne Technology, he was responsible for all aspects of finance, accounting and reporting. In overseeing the Technology Business Unit, his responsibilities included partnerships and companies across multiple jurisdictions. Chis served as a director for a number of these large companies.
In the beginning of 2021, Chris was again “head-hunted” by the Pallinghurst Group, where, as a Partner, he serves as the CFO of the Group. Chris is responsible for all aspects typically associated with the Group Chief Financial Officer role. He is also on the board of a number of the group companies.
Senior Advisors

Dr. Rod Baxter
Dr. Rod Baxter is an Australian and South African citizen with more than 30 years’ experience as a natural resources professional and senior business executive. Whilst his main focus has been on the mining and processing sectors, he has also been active in other industries including construction, engineering and infrastructure development.
Rod Baxter
Chairman of Pallinghurst Australia & Senior Advisor
Dr. Rod Baxter is an Australian and South African citizen with more than 30 years’ experience as a natural resources professional and senior business executive. Whilst his main focus has been on the mining and processing sectors, he has also been active in other industries including construction, engineering and infrastructure development.
Rod holds a BSc and a BSc Honours in Mathematics (distinction) and Chemistry from Rhodes University, South Africa. He also holds an MBA from the University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa. In addition, he earned a PhD from Rhodes University in thermodynamics. Rod has also attended advanced leadership and finance programs through INSEAD in France and Stanford University in California, USA.
His experience as a senior professional within the natural resources space extends across numerous commodities, including metals and minerals critical for energy transformation, battery making and fuel cells. This includes manganese; copper; nickel; industrial minerals and platinum group metals. In his early career, Rod was involved in a number of technical roles, including metallurgical, process engineering and project management. As a senior executive at Anglo American Platinum, Rod occupied various commercial and strategic roles, including new mine ventures and leading the group’s business optimisation. For the past 15 years, Dr. Baxter has acted as the CEO of a number of public and listed companies. He has also served as a non-executive Director on numerous company Boards.
As a seasoned Business Executive, Rod has extensive experience in executing business turnarounds, with a track record in delivering company growth through organic as well as company-transformational transactions and commercial ventures, including IPO's; acquisitions; cross-border Joint Ventures; capital raisings; Brownfields and Greenfields mine expansions, as well as turnarounds, and the implementation of optimisation programs.
Dr. Baxter joined the Pallinghurst Group as Chairman of Pallinghurst Australia as well as a Senior Advisor to the Partnership and a member of the group’s Senior Advisory Panel.

Betty Joy LeBlanc
Ms. LeBlanc acts as the senior corporate communications advisor to the Pallinghurst Group. She is also the interface with the Group’s institutional investors. Before joining Pallinghurst, she was the Director of Corporate Communications of Lithium Americas Corp.
Betty Joy LeBlanc
Senior Investor and Corporate Communications Advisor to the Partnership
Ms. LeBlanc acts as the senior corporate communications advisor to the Pallinghurst Group. She is also the interface with the Group’s institutional investors. Before joining Pallinghurst, she was the Director of Corporate Communications of Lithium Americas Corp. Ms. LeBlanc also advises The Pallinghurst Group on the development of ESG-focused corporate positioning and communication strategy. Betty has over 25 years of experience in corporate communications, working with Canadian, UK and US listed natural resource companies in the areas of investor relations, equity and debt financings, and corporate governance.
Ms. LeBlanc earned a Master of Business Administration from Saint Mary’s University and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Brock University. She is also a member of the Canadian Investor Relations Institute. Ms. LeBlanc is a Canadian citizen.

George Nakos
Mr. Nakos acts as senior external financial advisor to The Pallinghurst Group. He is Joint-CEO of Grey Matter financial advisory services. For almost a decade, George has advised The Pallinghurst Group on a number of key M&A transactions as well as capital raisings.
George Nakos
Senior External Strategic Advisor to the Partnership
Mr. Nakos acts as senior external financial advisor to the Pallinghurst Group. He is Joint-CEO of Grey Matter financial advisory services. For almost a decade, George has advised The Pallinghurst Group on a number of key M&A transactions as well as capital raisings. George has 20 years of investment banking and operational experience, having managed a number of large M&A and capital raising transactions, in a number of different jurisdictions – predominantly within the resources industry. In addition, he has held a variety of senior executive positions.
George is a Chartered Accountant and CFA charter holder. He attended the University of South Africa where he earned a Bachelor’s of Commerce (Accounts), and Harvard Business School where he completed a Professional Leadership Development Program. George is a Greek and British citizen

Julien Naginski
Julien Naginski is senior external legal counsel at Pallinghurst. He is a partner at Chammas & Marcheteau in Paris and is admitted to the bar in Paris, New York and England & Wales, and is a member of the board of the World Association of Mining Lawyers.
Julien Naginski
Senior External Legal Counsel and Advisor to the Partnership
Julien Naginski is senior external legal counsel at Pallinghurst. He is a partner at Chammas & Marcheteau in Paris and is admitted to the bar in Paris, New York and England & Wales, and is a member of the board of the World Association of Mining Lawyers. Julien has over 25 years’ experience in natural resources transactions, alternative investment funds, financing and commercial contracts in Europe, North America, Africa and Asia. He served as General Counsel of The Pallinghurst Group for six years, before becoming an external strategic and legal advisor to the partnership.
Julien holds law degrees from Cornell Law School, Kings College London, and The Fletcher School of Law & Diplomacy and an undergraduate degree from Columbia University. A native English and French speaker, Julien supports the Pallinghurst team on a wide variety of legal and strategic matters in Europe and North America. Mr. Naginski is a French and US citizen.
Group Heads
Group Head of Mining and Engineering

Spiro Pippos
Spiro Pippos oversees our mining engineering and mine management upstream effort. Spiro is Australian and holds an MBA from London Business School. In addition, he earned a Bachelor of Engineering (Mining) with honours as well as a Bachelor of Commerce (Finance) from University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
Spiro Pippos
Group Head of Mining and Engineering
Spiro Pippos oversees our mining engineering and mine management upstream effort. Spiro is Australian and holds an MBA from London Business School. In addition, he earned a Bachelor of Engineering (Mining) with honours as well as a Bachelor of Commerce (Finance) from University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
Prior to joining Pallinghurst, for more than a decade, Spiro has worked within the mining sector. His experience ranges from “hands-on” mining engineering and operational management to corporate finance and advisory.
Within corporate finance, he was a senior member of the team of a leading independent financial and investment firm focussed on natural resources. He was responsible for generating and executing corporate financial advisory, M&A, capital raising and financial restructuring mandates across the natural resources space. Spiro led corporate finance efforts on a wide range of mining projects and companies in Europe, Asia, Africa, South America and Australia.
Group Head of Corporate Finance

Sean Thijsse
Sean Thijsse joined Pallinghurst in 2011 and has been an integral part of Pallinghurst’s corporate finance team for over a decade. Specifically, he headed the execution of Pallinghurst’s Steel Making Materials strategy which resulted in building the Tshipi manganese mine into the single largest manganese mine in South Africa and the top five in the world.
Sean Thijsse
Group Head of Corporate Finance
Sean Thijsse joined Pallinghurst in 2011 and has been an integral part of Pallinghurst’s corporate finance team for over a decade. Specifically, he headed the execution of Pallinghurst’s Steel Making Materials strategy which resulted in building the Tshipi manganese mine into the single largest manganese mine in South Africa and the top five in the world.
Sean worked on numerous M&A transactions within all of Pallinghurst’s investment segments. In addition, he has focused on capital market and capital raisings activities – including managing the successful IPO of Jupiter Mines Limited on the ASX in 2018 – which was one of the largest mining IPO in the past decade. Within the battery materials space, Sean is focussed on the corporate finance, capital markets and structuring elements of Pallinghurst’s investment activities.
Sean is a CFA charterholder and attended Stellenbosch University in South Africa earning a Bachelor of Commerce in investment management and financial accounting as well as Honours in financial analysis. Sean is a South African and Dutch citizen.
Group Head of Metallurgy

Zama Ntombela
Zama Ntombela oversees our processing and downstream analysis. Zama is South African and has earned a Master’s Degree in Management of Finance and Investment from Wits Business School. She also holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Metallurgical Engineering) – First Class from the University of Pretoria.
Zama Ntombela
Group Head of Process Engineering
Zama Ntombela oversees our processing and downstream analysis. Zama is South African and has earned a Master’s Degree in Management of Finance and Investment from Wits Business School. She also holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Metallurgical Engineering) – First Class from the University of Pretoria.
Prior to joining Pallinghurst, Zama worked in the IDC’s Natural Resources team where she was a successful “Deal Maker”, having completed in excess of 20 metals and mining related deals, in a number of different countries, ranging from equity to debt transactions. Before joining the IDC, she worked as a metallurgical engineer for Metso Outotec and Glencore.
Zama, with her expertise in metallurgy and financial analysis, as well as her proven deal due-diligence skills and execution capabilities, is a valued member of Pallinghurst’s investment team. Since joining Pallinghurst, Zama has been a core member of the Nouveau Monde and Nemaska investment teams.
Zama is a member of the South African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, as well as Women in Mining South Africa.
Group Head of
Geology

Dr. Alex Middleton
Dr. Alex Middleton is Head of Pallinghurst Canada and spearheads the Group’s geological analysis. Alex is British but based in Montreal, Canada, and earned a PhD with a focus on geochemistry as well as natural resource research and development from the University of Queensland, Australia.
Dr. Alex Middleton
Group Head of Geology
Dr. Alex Middleton is Head of Pallinghurst Canada and spearheads the Group’s geological analysis. Alex is British but based in Montreal, Canada, and earned a PhD with a focus on geochemistry as well as natural resource research and development from the University of Queensland, Australia.
Before that, he earned a MSci (Hons) in Earth Science and Engineering from Imperial College London.
Prior to joining Pallinghurst, Alex worked in London for a metals trading firm. He comes with experience in technical due diligence for mining acquisitions, metal off-take agreements and corporate disposals. In addition, Alexander has been part of equity and debt finance projects and mining project development (drilling program design and mineral processing). He has worked on projects across a range of different jurisdictions in the Americas, Europe and Africa. Before commencing his finance advisory career, Alex worked for the Geological Survey of Finland in Helsinki. In that position he conducted research, quantitative analysis and statistical data interpretation, as well as preparing documentation of research for industry and international publication.
Group Head of Investments

Richard Dudley
Richard Dudley joined Pallinghurst in 2016 and has been a key part of the corporate finance team ever since. He initially worked on several transactions across the group, which included the successful Pallinghurst Resources takeover of Gemfields, and restructurings within Pallinghurst’s platinum group metals portfolio.
Richard Dudley
Group Head of Corporate Investments
Richard Dudley joined Pallinghurst in 2016 and has been a key part of the corporate finance team ever since. He initially worked on several transactions across the group, which included the successful Pallinghurst Resources takeover of Gemfields, and restructurings within Pallinghurst’s platinum group metals portfolio.
Richard has played an integral role in the successful execution of capital raising transactions for Nouveau Monde and Nemaska, as part of Pallinghurst’s battery materials strategy. He is also actively involved in the deal structuring process for Pallinghurst’s investors.
In addition, Richard heads up the investment accounting and financial reporting function at Pallinghurst, and also leads the investor reporting process for Pallinghurst’s PGM portfolio.
Richard graduated from the University of Cape Town in South Africa where he obtained a Bachelor of Commerce in accounting as well as a postgraduate qualification in financial analysis and portfolio management. He holds both South African and British citizenship. Prior to joining Pallinghurst, Richard held several finance industry positions, including at a FTSE100 construction company.
Group Head of HR and Operations

Alice Coslett
Alice Coslett delivers wide ranging expertise to The Pallinghurst Group. Alongside managing these fundamental personnel processes, her role extends to supporting the Finance Team and advising Management.
Alice Coslett
Group Head of HR and Operations
Alice Coslett delivers wide ranging expertise to The Pallinghurst Group. Alongside managing these fundamental personnel processes, her role extends to supporting the Finance Team and advising Management.
Since joining the Group in 2011, Alice has become an integral member of the team. She has been instrumental in implementing and refining operations to ensure that the Group functions efficiently and effectively.
Alice holds a BA (Hons) in Sociology from the University of Kent in the UK, and a Chartered Institute of Professional Development (CIPD) qualification in Human Resources Management (Level Three). She is an Associate Member of the CIPD.
Group Head of Compliance

Anthony Payne
Anthony Payne oversees regulatory compliance throughout The Pallinghurst Group, along with ensuring the group adheres to positive ESG practices and global tax regimes.
Anthony Payne
Group Head of Compliance
Anthony Payne oversees regulatory compliance throughout The Pallinghurst Group, along with ensuring the group adheres to positive ESG practices and global tax regimes.
Prior to joining Pallinghurst in 2010, Anthony spent five years with a top UK corporate service provider, focusing on share registration and investment trusts, and established an in-house online share dealing facility for all listed company shareholders. Anthony then spent the next six years with a leading global investment manager, focusing on daily trading of UK and European mutual funds. Following that, Anthony project managed the development of IT solutions to support regulatory compliance alongside cost saving initiatives for the global back-office functions.
Anthony qualified with the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators in UK Company Secretarial Practice at the Kensington College of Business, London.
Anthony brings to the group 20 years of experience in the financial services industry including regulatory compliance, share registration, investment management and private equity.
Global Head of Accounting

Timene Stemmet
Timene Stemmet joined Pallinghurst in 2009 and ever since has been managing the accounting needs of the Group’s offices across the globe.
Timene Stemmet
Global Head of Accounting
Timene Stemmet joined Pallinghurst in 2009 and ever since has been managing the accounting needs of the Group’s offices across the globe. Having worked internationally and within a variety of sectors including financial services, media and hospitality prior to joining Pallinghurst, Timene brings diverse accounting expertise to the Group.
Timene’s responsibilities are broad and multi-faceted. She spearheads the accounting and financial reporting processes for multiple entities internationally across the Group. Timene also manages many of Pallinghurst’s tax responsibilities and oversees all audits to ensure the Group’s compliance with its regulatory responsibilities.
Timene holds a bachelor’s degree in Accounting Science from the University of South Africa and has over 20 years of audit and financial and cost accounting experience.
Senior Business Management
Financial Modelling

Eve James
Eve James joined The Pallinghurst Group in 2018 providing varied administrative support to the London Team, including senior members within the core investment and compliance teams.
Eve James
Business Manager, UK and Canada
Eve James joined The Pallinghurst Group in 2018 providing varied administrative support to the London Team, including senior members within the core investment and compliance teams.
Prior to joining Pallinghurst, Eve worked in a private family office and luxury yacht charter brokerage, bringing with her extensive experience in secretarial support, HNW client management and operational coordination, together with two foreign languages. Eve attended the University of Nottingham in the UK and earned a Bachelor of Arts with Combined Honours in Politics, Spanish and French.

Carissa Mosser O'Neill
Carissa Mosser O’Neill provides high-level secretarial, administrative and information management support to Andrew Willis and the wider team.
Carissa Mosser O'Neill
Business Manager, Channel Islands
Carissa Mosser O’Neill provides high-level secretarial, administrative and information management support to Andrew Willis and the wider team.
Carissa holds a BA (Hons), degree in Geography, Business and the Environment from the University of Nottingham in the UK and a Post Graduate Diploma in Surveying (PGDipSurv), from the University of Reading College of Estate Management. Carissa studied to become an Associate Member of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (AssocRICS) whilst working in her previous role as a Commercial Surveyor.

Ulandi Langhein
Ulandi Langhein has over 30 years of experience in various disciplines such as Business, Financial and Project Management as well as Operating Excellence and Community engagement.
Ulandi Langhein
Business & ESG Analyst
Ulandi Langhein has over 30 years of experience in various disciplines such as Business, Financial and Project Management as well as Operating Excellence and Community engagement.
Ulandi joined Pallinghurst in November 2008. Her main focus is on governance and compliance issues for southern Africa and the rendering of high level strategic and administrative support to the Chief Executive. She is also involved in research, investor, media and stakeholder relations and intellectual property security for the Pallinghurst Group.
Ulandi holds a Diploma in Commerce from the Technikon of the Witwatersrand and a Diploma in Project Management (Cum Laude) from the University of South Africa. She has received Six Sigma certification to lead improvement projects and has been endorsed by Oxfam Australia to deliver people-centred community development training programs in regard to community engagement, dialogue and community-based human rights impact assessments.
Financial Modelling

Edmund Zimmer
Edmund Zimmer joined Pallinghurst in 2021 and provides financial reporting and modelling support for various entities across the Group. Edmund is fully exam-qualified through the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW).
Edmund Zimmer
Financial Accountant