Adonis Pouroulis, son of mining magnate, Loucas, has turned Petra Diamonds into one of the most promising mid-tier diamond producers listed in London. The focus this year will be on Pouroulis’ ability to deliver. The company recently raised US$120m in a rights offer that will haul back debt, finance an increase to 74% its stake in the famed South African diamond mine Cullinan and simplify the shareholder structure. The company is aiming at 3m carats by 2016, from its current 1m carats. No peer group diamond producer has that growth profile, but can Pouroulis use the cash to grow output and generate cash flow? Meanwhile, Pouroulis is hatching other plans – including founding an African-focused resource fund with interests across the commodity spectrum. Last year he was influential in listing Chariot Oil & Gas, with holds licences off Namibia. Chariot raised $90m and is in joint venture with Brazil’s Petrobras.

LIFE OF ADONIS
Born in 1970, Pouroulis has a mining degree from the University of Witwatersrand. He spent a year working on SA’s gold mines and another year assessing mining propositions in Russia. He lives in Spain, within, easy reach of London, where Petra is listed and headquartered, but with better weather.