Expert on Africa joins Metropolitan's board

Metropolitan is delighted to announce that Sir Sam Jonah  (pictured right), one of Africa’s leading businessmen and a giant in international business circles, has joined its board as a nonexecutive director with effect from 1 January 2008.

As one of Africa's most prominent businessmen, he is currently the executive chairman of Jonah Capital Limited, a South African based investment holding company. He is a former president of AngloGold Ashanti Limited, the world’s second largest gold producer.

Sir Sam Jonah’s services as an advisor are highly sought-after as evidenced by the long list of offices of an advisory nature he holds, both globally and locally, mostly of a business nature.

In addition to having been made a Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (KBE) and having Ghana’s highest national award, Companion of the Order of the Star (OSG), conferred on him, he has at different times been awarded honorary doctorates of both science and the humanities in recognition of his illustrious career as a mining engineer, chief executive, director, management consultant, diplomat, educationist and administrator.

As an active supporter of educational and healthcare causes in Africa in particular, Sir Sam Jonah is as committed to the interests of local communities as he is to the economic advancement of the African continent as a whole.

“We are greatly looking forward to benefiting from Sir Sam Jonah’s wealth of African business expertise and experience and will avail ourselves of his professional advice whenever necessary,” says Peter Doyle, group chief executive. “We are confident that having him on our team will assist our expansion into Africa. His hands-on involvement in socially responsible investing will also be of great value as sustainability issues assume ever greater significance in the lives of businesspeople.”