Craig Lyons

Director at Universal Coal PLC

Mr Lyons is an experienced and accomplished investment banker and businessman with extensive strategic, management and finance experience in various industries having built and led a number of leading businesses in Southern and West Africa. He actively participates as a chairman/director and/or investment committee member on various company boards, committees and investment funds.

Craig currently champions a number of investments in South Africa and Africa for companies requiring his independent analysis, views and injection of creative energy, financial acumen, strategic guidance and access to a broad network of relationships.

Craig worked for Standard Corporate and Merchant Bank (Investment Banking) prior to co-founding Mvelaphanda Strategic Investments (Pty) Ltd where he was responsible for building and managing its investment portfolio of financial services, property, infrastructure, resources, technology, telecommunications, engineering, healthcare and engineering assets and investments. As CEO, he built Mvelaphanda into one of the leading investment houses in South Africa with assets in excess of R28 billion.