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Pilbara Minerals’ new CEO and other recent executive movements

Pilbara Minerals

Keep up with the latest executive movements across the mining sector, featuring Pilbara Minerals, Anglo American, Global Lithium Resources and more.  

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Pilbara Minerals has identified its replacement for current managing director and chief executive officer (CEO) Ken Brinsden, hiring Dale Henderson to the role.

The appointment follows an extensive executive search process conducted by the lithium miner, with Henderson selected from a field of outstanding candidates.

Having been the chief operating officer of Pilbara Minerals since 2017, Henderson was appointed because of his strong lithium industry experience, strong cultural values and work ethic.

Henderson has worked in senior roles for companies such as Fortescue Metals Group, Chevron and Occidental Petroleum, and has played a key role in overseeing operational improvements at Pilbara Minerals’ Pilgangoora project in Western Australia.

Brinsden steps down as managing director and CEO of the company on July 30.

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Anglo American has welcomed Daniel van der Westhuizen as the company’s CEO in Australia, where he will lead Anglo’s steelmaking coal business made up of five coal mines in Queensland’s Bowen Basin and additional joint venture interests in steelmaking coal and manganese.

Commencing in September, van der Westhuizen comes from Rio Tinto where he most recently chief operating officer and interim managing director of Rio Tinto Aluminium – Pacific Operations.

“Daniel brings to the Anglo American team extensive cross-commodity mining experience in Australia, and a strong understanding of the role that premium quality steelmaking coal must play in the transition to a decarbonised world,” Themba Mkhwanazi, chief executive of Anglo American’s global bulk commodities business, said.

“Anglo American has a series of ambitious goals to transform the future of mining across the full range of sustainability areas, which all of our businesses around the world, including in Australia, are committed to achieving.

“Daniel and the team in our Australian business will ensure that we continue to drive towards carbon neutral operations by 2040, as well as making our business safer and more sustainable in every respect.

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Ron Mitchell has been appointed as the new managing director of Global Lithium Resources, having first joined the company’s board as executive director – markets and growth in March.

Mitchell has already played a role in a number of significant developments at Global Lithium since he first arrived, including the signing of a 10-year offtake agreement with major shareholder Suzhou TA&A Ultra Clean Technology Co. and the introduction of Mineral Resources as a cornerstone investor.

He has also been influential in the commencement of Global Lithium’s maiden drilling campaign at the Manna lithium project in Western Australia.

“Whilst we had commenced an executive search to identify the right person to lead the company in its next stage of growth towards development and production, over the last couple of months it became evident that we already had the right person for the job on the team,” Global Lithium non-executive chair Warrick Hazeldine said.

“Ron is truly a leader in the lithium space and his knowledge of the global lithium market is second to none. The feedback we received from both institutions and private investors alike is that this is who they wish to see at our helm as we advance Global Lithium.”

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Argent Minerals has welcomed Pedro Kastellorizos as its new managing director, bringing with him more than 25 years’ experience in the exploration, mining and corporate sectors.

Kastellorizos founded Genesis Resources in 2009 and has held board positions at Eclipse Metals, Batavia Mining and Regency Mines, while serving as exploration manager at Tennant Creek Gold and Thor Mining.

Currently a non-executive director of MinRex Resources, Kastellorizos has spearheaded numerous successful joint ventures at public and private mineral exploration and mining companies.

He will play an important role as Argent develops its exploration assets in New South Wales’ Lachlan Orogen, strategically positioned in the same neighbourhood as Newcrest’s Cadia gold operations.

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Poseidon Nickel has appointed a non-executive director in Warren Hallam, who is a highly experienced metallurgist and mineral economist with exposure to a range of commodities such as copper, nickel, tin, gold and iron ore.

Hallam has held numerous board and senior executive positions within the resources sector, including at Westgold Resources, Aziana and Nelson Resources, while he was also managing director of Capricorn Metals, Metals Exploration and Metals X.

Poseidon chair Derek La Ferla and managing director Peter Harold shared their endorsement for Hallam.

“We are delighted to welcome Warren to the board of Poseidon,” they said in a shared statement. “His skills, expertise and experience will add timely technical and operational strength to our board as we focus on delivering our fill-the-mill strategy and restarting the Black Swan nickel project.”

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Simon Wandke has been appointed as a non-executive director of Magnetite Mines, which is currently developing its Razorback iron ore project in South Australia.

With extensive global iron ore leadership, strategy, value chain and commercial experience, Wandke was most recently executive vice president and CEO of ArcelorMittal, the world’s largest steel producer.

Magnetite Mines chair Mark Eames said Wandke would play an important role as the company continues to develop Razorback.

“Simon brings a wealth of strategy, management and marketing experience from the mining sector and has a great track record of success, particularly in the development of effective commercial strategies across multiple iron ore businesses, product types and geographies,” Eames said.

“His valuable experience will provide further confidence in the business’s direction and strategy and I look forward to working with him during this exciting time.”

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