Board of Directors

MR. HIROTAKA SUZUKI
chairman of the board

Mr. Suzuki graduated from the Keio University of Japan with a degree in Business Administration. He joined a Japanese conglomerate, Itochu Corporation, in 1983 and, since then, has amassed over 30 years of working experience in the Manganese industry.

In June 1993, Mr. Suzuki established his own company, Asia Minerals Limited (AML), in Hong Kong, and has been the Chairman of AML since its incorporation. Currently, AML owns a smelting plant in Malaysia and has also invested in a smelting company located in India. AML has subsidiary offices around the world, including China, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, India, Ukraine, South Africa, and North America.

In 2008, AML, through its subsidiary Kudumane Investment Holdings (currently 75% owned by AML, 25% owned by Nippon Denko Company Limited under Nippon Steel Group) established Kudumane Manganese Resources (KMR) jointly with two BBBEE entities, Bold Moves 1715 (Pty) Ltd and Afris Manganese (Pty) Ltd. Mr. Suzuki has been serving as a Director on the Board of Kudumane Manganese Resources (Pty) Ltd since its inception. Mr. Suzuki was the Chairman of the Board from 2015 until 2019.

DR. MANDLA GANTSHO
director

Dr. Mandla Gantsho is currently the Executive Chairman of Africa Rising Capital (Pty) Ltd, an emerging black-owned financial services provider.

He is an expert on infrastructure development finance and has an in-depth knowledge of Africa’s business climate. Dr. Gantsho was, from 2006-2009, Vice-President of the African Development Bank (AfDB). His portfolio as Vice President comprised of: Infrastructure Development, Water and Sanitation, Private Sector Development, and Regional Integration.

In addition, the following Special Initiatives were hosted and supervised under his Vice Presidency: Infrastructure Consortium for Africa, Rural Water and Sanitation Initiative, NEPAD Infrastructure Project Preparation Facility, African Water Facility, and associated Trust Funds.

Prior to joining the AfDB, he served as CEO and MD (2001-2006) and CFO (1995-2000) of the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA). The DBSA is a South African DFI which has a sub-regional mandate to finance sustainable physical, social and economic infrastructure.

In 1997, while at the DBSA, Dr. Gantsho was appointed by former President Nelson Mandela to be a Commissioner on the Finance & Fiscal Commission, set up in terms of the South African Constitution, to advise Parliament on intergovernmental fiscal transfers. In 2002, Dr. Gantsho was appointed by former President Thabo Mbeki as one of three Commissioners on the Commission of Enquiry to investigate and report on the reasons for the Rapid Depreciation of the Rand in 2001. In 2011, Dr. Gantsho was appointed by President Jacob Zuma as a government representative director on the board of the South African Reserve Bank.

From 2000-2001, Dr. Gantsho was second to the International Finance Corporation, the private sector arm of the World Bank Group, in Washington D.C, USA; from 1992-1995, he worked as a senior manager at Transnet and 1989 –1992 as a strategic manager at Mobil Oil/Engen.

Dr. Gantsho is the former Chairman of the following listed companies: Kumba Iron Ore Limited,  Impala Platinum Holdings Limited and Sasol Limited. He also chaired the board of directors of Ithala Development Finance Corporation Ltd and served on the Advisory Board of Rand Merchant Bank.

Dr. Gantsho is a qualified Chartered Accountant, CA (SA), and holds several degrees, including a Ph.D. and an M.Phil. from the University of Pretoria, an M.Sc. from the George Washington University in the USA, a B.Com. (Hons) and a CTA from the University of Cape Town, and a B.Com. from the former University of Transkei.

MR. HAN CAO
DIRECTOR

Mr. Cao graduated from the University of Poitiers of France with a master’s degree in Business Administration. He joined AML Shenzhen Representative Office in China (which had been renamed as “AML China Ltd”) in 2003, as Sales Representative and specialized in Manganese Ore and Manganese Alloy trading for years. In 2006, he was promoted to Deputy General Manager.

In 2010, he was further promoted to General Manager of AML China Ltd and became an Associated Director of the Company’s mother group, Asia Minerals Limited. He is responsible for overseeing the Manganese ore sales in China and the sourcing of Manganese Ore globally.

Mr. Cao was appointed as a Director of Kudumane Manganese Resources (Pty) Ltd in 2012 and has been working with the KMR management team to establish and improve the Company’s operations since then.

Mr Shuzaburo “Charlie” Tsuchihashi
DIRECTOR

Mr. Shuzaburo “Charlie” Tsuchihashi brings over three decades of global leadership experience in natural mineral resources, corporate governance, and strategic management.

He began his career at ITOCHU Corporation, one of Japan’s leading conglomerates, in 1985. Over the next 30+ years, he held various senior roles, contributing significantly to the company’s growth in the natural resources sector. In his final four years at ITOCHU, Mr. Tsuchihashi served on the Audit and Advisory Board, where he played a key role in corporate oversight and strategic advisory.

On 1st September 2022, he was appointed as a Director of the AML Group, where he has been instrumental in shaping overall group strategy and management.

As of 1st April 2025, Mr. Tsuchihashi serves as President of AML Holdings LLC, where he continues to drive innovation, operational excellence, and long-term value creation.