RNS Number:2945M
Firestone Diamonds PLC
13 May 2005

                             Firestone Diamonds plc

                          Senior Executive Appointment

LONDON: 13 May 2005 - The Board of Firestone Diamonds plc, ("the Company"), the
AIM-quoted diamond mining and exploration company, is pleased to announce the
appointment of Mr. Tim Wilkes as Director Resource Development for the Firestone
Diamonds group.

Mr. Wilkes joins Firestone from De Beers, where he was General Manager Mineral
Resource Management, with responsibility for the management of De Beers' mineral
resource portfolio worldwide, and was the Competent Person responsible for the
evaluation, classification and reporting of the company's mineral resources and
reserves.

Mr. Wilkes brings over twenty four years' experience in the diamond industry,
including twenty years with De Beers.  He has worked extensively on kimberlite
and alluvial diamond exploration, evaluation and mining projects worldwide,
including four years at the Orapa Mine in Botswana, and six years on the west
coast of South Africa and Namibia.  He is Chairman of the sub-committee for
diamonds of the South African Mineral Resource Committee (SAMREC), which is
responsible for the publication of the SAMREC Code.  The SAMREC Code sets out
standards for reporting of exploration results, mineral resources and mineral
reserves in South Africa.

In his new position, Mr. Wilkes will be responsible for leading the development
of Firestone's mineral resource portfolio.  His primary focus will initially be
on the Company's strategic projects, as follows:

*        the Mopipi and Orapa projects in Botswana, which are being explored in
joint venture with De Beers, and where a number of kimberlites have been
recently discovered and are in the process of being evaluated

*        the Jwaneng project in Botswana, which is also being explored in joint
venture with De Beers

*        the Company's other new exploration projects in the Orapa and Jwaneng
areas

*        the Groen River Valley project in Namaqualand



Mr. Wilkes will also be responsible for the identification and evaluation of
potential new projects for the Company in Southern Africa and elsewhere.  Mr.
Wilkes will report to Philip Kenny, Chief Executive Officer, and will join the
group's Executive Committee.

Commenting on today's announcement, Philip Kenny, CEO of Firestone Diamonds,
said:  "We are delighted that Tim has decided to join Firestone.  He is one of
the leading professionals in his field, and the extensive experience and skills
that he brings to our senior management team will be a great asset to the
Company in developing and expanding the Company's project portfolio."

For further information:

Philip Kenny, Firestone Diamonds          +44 20 7370 6452 / +44 7831 324 645
Leesa Peters, Conduit PR                  +44 20 7618 8760 / +44 7812 159 885
Jamie Cumming, Bell Lawrie White          +44 141 314 8103 / +44 77 6804 4620

                       Website: www.firestonediamonds.com

Background information:

Firestone Diamonds plc is an international diamond mining and exploration
company with operations in the Namaqualand region of South Africa, Botswana and
the United States.

Firestone has extensive interests in Botswana, which is the world's largest
producer of diamonds, with annual production of over 30 million carats worth
over $2.5 billion.  Botswana is considered to be one of the best countries in
the world to explore for kimberlite - the primary source rock for diamonds.
Firestone's Mopipi, Orapa and Jwaneng projects are located close to the major
Orapa and Jwaneng mines and are all being explored by De Beers in joint venture
with Firestone.  Firestone is also exploring for kimberlite in the US on the
Laurentia craton, which extends into Canada, where it hosts the Ekati and Diavik
diamond mines.

Namaqualand, which is located on the west coast of South Africa, has been one of
the world's largest alluvial diamond producing regions for the past 60 years,
with total production to date estimated to be worth more than $3 billion.
Firestone's mining operations in Namaqualand include the Bonte Koe, Avontuur and
Oena Mines, all of which produce high quality alluvial diamonds, and a growing
portfolio of early stage and advanced exploration projects, of which the Groen
River Valley project is the most important.



Firestone has a highly qualified management team with extensive experience in
the financing and development of diamond and other natural resource projects.
Firestone is quoted on the Alternative Investment Market (AIM) of the London
Stock Exchange and trades under the symbol FDI.L.




                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
END

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