RAPAPORT... Dominion Diamond Mines has named Patrick Merrin as its interim CEO, replacing Shane Durgin, who has left to pursue other opportunities. Merrin, who assumes the role with immediate effect, joined parent group Washington Companies as chief operating officer for mining last month. He will serve in both capacities to ensure a "seamless transition in leadership" while it identifies a permanent successor, Dominion said last week.The executive, who previously worked for gold producer Goldcorp, is the third CEO to head Dominion since its $1.2 billion acquisition by Washington Companies in November 2017. Prior to Durgin, who was with the company for a year and a half, ex-Mountain Province CEO Patrick Evans was at the helm. He left in December 2018, after just over a year at the miner.Dominion owns the Ekati mine in Canada's Northwest Territories as well as 40% of Diavik, with the remainder held by Rio Tinto-owned subsidiary Diavik Diamond Mines.Image: Patrick Merrin. (Patrick Merrin/LinkedIn)