John Bristow at present holds the position of President & CEO at Rockwell Diamonds Inc. since 2007.
John Bristow holds a PhD degree in geology from the University of Cape Town.

His career began with De Beers in 1983 in Kimberley and moved to Johannesburg in 1990 where he was Manager of the Anglo American Research Laboratories, prior to establishing an independent international diamond consultancy in 1994.
In 1994 John started an international diamond consultancy, and helped establish the Minerals and Energy Policy (MEPC) Johannesburg.
During 1996 - 1997 he served as technical director to Moonstone Diamonds (an Australian junior), and from 1996 - 1998 was diamond analyst for financial securities company Huysamer Stals - ABN Amro. In 1998 John played a key role in creating and listing successful alluvial diamond producer Gem Diamond Mining Corporation on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. Gem Diamonds Saxendrift mining operation consistently produced amongst the worlds highest value alluvial diamonds, and was merged with the Trans Hex Group in 2000. From 2002 he was a Director and CEO of Kalahari Diamonds Limited and its subsidiary Sekaka Diamonds (Pty) Limited in Botswana until Kalahari was merged with Petra Diamonds in late 2005.
Dr. Bristow is, or was within the past five years, an officer and/or director of the following public companies: Oropa Limited as Director from December 2000 to April 2004; Rockwell Diamonds Inc. as Director, President, Chief Operating Officer from August 2006 to Present; Chief Executive Officer from September 2007 to Present.