Dominion Diamond director Robert Gannicott has passed away at the age of 69, following a long battle with leukemia.
He died yesterday with his life partner, Geraldine Peacock, at his side.
“It is a sad day at Dominion,” said company CEO, Brendan Bell. “Bob Gannicott was a visionary and a pillar of the Canadian diamond industry. He built the company from the ground up, taking it from a junior mining company to what is it is today as Canada’s largest independent diamond producer. Bob was an exceptional leader, as well as a good friend and mentor. He will be deeply missed by all who had the good fortune to work with him and to know him.”
Gannicott was a member of Dominion’s board of directors since the company’s inception in 1992. He was board chair from June 2004 until April 2016 and CEO from September 1999 to July 2015.
Gannicott led the company through its growth following its discovery and founding of the Diavik Diamonds Project in 1994 and 1995, as well as the acquisition of the luxury diamond jewellery brand, Harry Winston. He later led the charge to acquire the Ekati Diamond Mine and sell Harry Winston, returning the company to its roots as a Canadian diamond miner.
