Keep up with the latest executive movements across the mining sector, featuring Firefinch, Hawsons Iron, Red 5 and more.
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Alistair Cowden has resigned as executive chair of Firefinch after three and a half years at the company. Brett Fraser has been appointed chair in his place.
It comes after Michael Anderson left his position as managing director in late June, which saw Cowden appointed the role of executive chair. Recently appointed directors Liz Wall and Naomi Scott also recently resigned.
Firefinch is advancing its Morila gold mine in Mali, which produced 13,300 ounces (oz) of gold in the second quarter of 2022, falling short of the 17,000–20,000oz guidance it had aimed for.
Firefinch said the underperformance was due to poor equipment availability, which comes as Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) sanctions were imposed on Mali, restricting the movement of goods in the process.
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Hawsons Iron has appointed of Andre du Preez as project director of its namesake iron ore project in New South Wales, freeing up managing director Bryan Granzien to increase his focus on corporate affairs.
du Preez will be responsible for the successful completion of the Hawsons Iron bankable feasibility study (BFS), construction and operation of the mine.
With 30 years’ experience in the resources sector, du Preez has a successful track record of evaluating and delivering major capital projects for top-tier multinational companies.
From 2011–20, du Preez worked at New Hope Corporation, where for the last five years he was the project development manager responsible for the coal miner’s $6 billion portfolio of projects.
Hawsons Iron managing director Bryan Granzien said the appointment of a project director had always been part of the company’s strategic plan.
“Andre is coming on board at a critical point in the BFS cycle because we and our large team of global consultants are now approaching a peak in activity on the evaluation, analysis and design work underway on the various aspects of the project,” he said.
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Red 5 has appointed Patrick Duffy as chief financial officer (CFO). His current role as chief corporate development officer will be consolidated with the CFO position.
The move coincides with John Tasovac’s resignation as CFO. Tasovac played a pivotal role in the company’s transition from the Philippines to the acquisition of the Darlot and King of the Hills projects in Western Australia.
Beginning his career as an auditor with Ernst & Young, Duffy is a chartered accountant with extensive commercial, financial and governance expertise.
Duffy was CFO of Xstrata’s $US6 billion Tampakan copper and gold project in the Philippines and was director – strategy and performance for the construction and commissioning of Glencore and Xstrata’s $US7 billion Koniambo nickel project in New Caledonia.
Since joining Red 5 in 2020, Duffy has played a key role in securing the project equity and debt funding for King of the Hills’ development.
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Tombola Gold has announced the resignation of Ken Stapleton from its board.
The emerging gold miner recently announced it had secured regional tenure around its Mt Freda gold project in Queensland with the acquisition of the Lorena processing facility and five tenements.
Stapleton resigned to avoid any potential conflict of interest given his role as founder and managing director of MineOp Consulting, which specialises in the provision of mine planning services.
While Tombola Gold has accepted Stapleton’s resignation as a director, it will continue to utilise his firm’s services given his extensive experience and familiarity with the company’s projects and strategy.