Meet the experts investing at scale

Lionhead is built on the expertise of its people. Our businesses are run by world-class Partners, and supported by a seasoned, multi-disciplinary team of operational and investment professionals from a variety of blue-chip backgrounds; ensuring we are able to invest and grow businesses at scale.

Our People

Richard Crookes

Managing Partner +

Richard Crookes

Managing Partner

Richard is managing partner of Lionhead Resources and chairman of the Investment Committee. He has over 30 years of global resource industry experience across a diverse range of projects, geographies and commodities as both an operator and investor. Richard is responsible for leading the firm’s fund-raising initiatives and managing key stakeholder relationships, overseeing the deal origination where he actively contributes operational and technical insights and leads the LHR's mining strategy, as he works closely with both the finance and technical teams.

Prior to LHR, Richard was the Chief Geologist and Mining Manager of Ernest Henry Mining in Australia (now Glencore), an Executive Director of Macquarie’s Metals & Energy Capital (MEC) division and, most recently, a senior Investment Partner at another mining private equity fund. Richard’s experience has spanned all aspects of mining projects, including exploration, mineral resource development, mine operations, environmental management, project finance and project management. While at Macquarie, Richard managed all aspects of Macquarie’s MEC principal investments in mining and metals companies including deal origination, evaluation, structuring, client relationship management, marketing and execution of investment entry and exits for both private and public resources companies.

Richard holds a BSc in Geology and a Grad Dip in Applied Finance. Richard is a member of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (AusIMM) and a Fellow of the Financial Services Institute of Australia (FINSIA).

Russell Bradford

Partner +

Russell Bradford

Partner

Russell is a partner at Lionhead Resources and is primarily responsible for conducting and undertaking technical due diligence on mining projects and for providing portfolio company oversight where he serves as a key partner to management teams, providing technical insights and overseeing development, growth and performance. Russell is metallurgist with over 35 years of project management and operational experience in the mining sector.

Prior to LHR, Russell gained extensive, hands-on experience at an executive level in both operations and project development for a number of tier 1 mining companies, including Anglo American, BCL and LionOre. He has extensive experience in grassroots to advanced exploration and the development of projects across a wide range of commodities and countries.

Russell has worked for over 20 years in executive operational roles within Africa and has played a key role in successfully developing a number of significant projects for listed mining companies globally.

Russell holds a Higher National Diploma in Extraction Metallurgy from the University of Johannesburg.

Paul Quirk

Partner +

Paul Quirk

Partner

Paul is a partner at Lionhead Resources. He is responsible for originating new investment opportunities and building and maintaining investor relations. Paul has had a successful career as a private equity investor, with over 15 years of private equity and operational experience in mining and other industries.

Before LHR, Paul co-founded Lionhead Capital Partners, a multi-strategy principal investment firm focused on mining, real estate and private equity investing. He was one of the founding partners of Cora Gold (previously Kola Gold), a gold exploration company operating in the Republic of Congo and Mali. He has deep experience in mining operations and has been actively involved in exploration, mineral resources development, project finance and project management. Paul has held various senior positions in a broad range of industries, including finance, mining and logistics industry, starting Fortis Logistique in Pointe Noire. A key part of Paul’s career has been identifying and evaluating resource opportunities around the world – while leveraging a large global network.

Paul holds a B.Comm from the Northeastern University in Accounting and Finance.

Christopher Sims

Partner +

Christopher Sims

Partner

Chris is a partner at Lionhead Resources, where he is principally responsible for conducting financial analysis and due diligence, structuring transactions, overseeing project implementation and development in line with key financial metrics.

Prior to LHR, Chris co-founded Lionhead Capital Partners, a multi-strategy principal investment firm focused on mining, real estate and private equity investing. Previously, Chris was a Principal at Stellar Capital Partners, where he co-led the credit investment team focussed principally on senior and mezzanine debt to middle market companies in the consumer goods sectors including healthcare, food, household products and durables. Before joining Stellar, Chris was a Vice President at Barclays Africa where he focused on principal equity investments in Africa, executing transactions in the banking, insurance and fintech sectors. Before joining Barclays, Chris worked as an investment associate at the Nodus Group, a generalist private equity firm focussed on the South African middle market.

Chris holds a B.BusSci (Hons) from the University of Cape Town and is a registered CA(SA) and CFA Charterholder.

David Deetlefs

Partner +

David Deetlefs

Partner

David is a partner at Lionhead Resources. He is responsible for conducting financial, tax and legal diligence, overseeing execution of transactions, maintaining relationships with key stakeholders and working closely with both the technical and finance team at LHR to ensure the success of key strategic initiatives.

Before LHR, David co-founded Lionhead Capital Partners, a multi-strategy principal investment firm focused on mining, real estate and private equity investing. Previously, David was Head of Mergers & Acquisitions at Stellar Capital Partners, a listed investment firm where he was responsible for identifying investment opportunities and advising companies in the middle market across Africa. David was formerly a Director at AfrAsia Corporate Finance, the investment banking arm of an African focused corporate bank, where he ran a high yield private credit investment fund and advised on numerous M&A and capital raising transactions. Earlier in his career, David practised corporate and insolvency law at DLA Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr.

David holds a B.BusSci, LLB, and PG Dip Tax from the University of Cape Town and is an admitted attorney.

Ed LePine-Williams

Partner +

Ed LePine-Williams

Partner

Edward is a partner at Lionhead Resources. He is primarily responsible for originating and analysing new investment opportunities, conducting operational diligence and developing value creation plans.

Prior to co-founding LHR, Edward was a Vice President at Alexander Proudfoot, a leading global management consulting company. Based in New York, he worked across several industries including mining, manufacturing and financial services, with a particular focus in growth, operational effectiveness and capital efficiency. Edward was formerly a strategy consultant at IMES Consulting Group (Dubai, U.A.E) where he worked across the consumer goods sector focused on market research, product expansion and strategic planning.

Edward holds a BSc Organisational Psychology from the University of Cape Town, a PG Dip Enterprise Management from UCT Graduate School of Business and a PG Dip (Valuations and Financial Analysis) from Columbia Business School.