Martin Rosser, the ex-stockbroker who has over the past few years been a leading light successively at mining research and investor relations group David Williamson Associates and similar operation VSA Resources, has now become a director at a potential mining company. AIM-quoted Alexander Mining, headed by abrasive ex-corporate financier Matt Sutcliffe and focused on Latin America, has promoted him from head of business development.

Alexander floated last year and has high hopes for its Leon copper and gold project in northern Argentina. Sutcliffe’s strategy is to identify deposits and take them into production or reject them as soon as possible, Aussie-style, to fund further expansion, rather than spend years absorbing cash to prove a speculative potential mega-deposit.

Rosser has played the mining game from many angles. He was at 1980s star broker TC Coombs, which closed amid fraud charges involving senior members. These were unconnected with Rosser and later thrown out by an Old Bailey jury.

He joined David Williamson Associates, which thrived before personal issues caused a break-up, and then took his part of the firm to VSA Resources. Among his protégés now flourishing elsewhere, Rosser lists Sacha Borthwick at broker Hargeave Hale, Emma Priestley at Lonrho (Africa) and several others.