Karelian Diamonds announced appointment of Howard Birdas a non-executive director of the company with immediate effect. Mr. Bird will also continue in his role as a geo-science consultant to the company. Mr. Howard Bird is an internationally experienced Professional Geoscientist (diamonds, gold, platinum and base metals) and has over 30 years’ diverse junior and senior mining company exploration, development and mining experience, including over 15 years at senior executive management level. Mr. Bird has a strong background in both European and North American marketing, capital financings, mergers and acquisitions, and joint-ventures. He has a proven track record contributing to significant company value added growth with grassroots exploration discovery success, development and production of highly profitable kimberlite diamond deposits. Mr. Bird was the Senior Vice President of Exploration and Geology at TSX listed Brigus Gold Corp. where he led the exploration team in the discovery of three new gold deposits at the Grey Fox Project. He was also part of the corporate development team adding the acquisitions of the Black Fox producing mine, near Timmins, Ontario and the Box mine deposit in northern Saskatchewan. He has extensive worldwide experience and was involved in programmes that have led to the discovery of over 100 kimberlites, working in Canada, Australia, Brazil, South Africa, Angola, Zimbabwe, Democratic Republic of Congo, Botswana and Gabon.