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New FMG boss and former Core Lithium chief heads to Canada

Fortescue

Keep up with the latest executive movements across the mining sector, featuring Fortescue Metals Group, Winsome Resources, Eastern Metals and more.

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Fortescue Metals Group has appointed former Woodside Energy executive Fiona Hick as its new chief executive officer (CEO), effective February 2023.

Hick’s addition will coincide with Fortescue’s 20-year anniversary.

She will support Fortescue’s continued transition to a global green metals and energy company. This goal overlaps with the company’s larger goal to decarbonise by 2030 while continuing to lead exploration and development into critical minerals and rare earths.

The transition to green metals and climate responsibility will add significant value for shareholders, according to Fortescue.

Hick described her new position as “is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity”.

“I come into this role with an enormous and exciting project pipeline to continue to grow and execute for Fortescue,” she said. “I am excited to deliver our vision with the entire Fortescue family, working closely with an amazingly supportive chairman and board.

“We must provide the metals and the energy which will help to accelerate the energy transition. I join with, and commit to, Andrew (Forrest) and Fortescue’s vision of becoming the leading green metals and energy company globally.”

Forrest, Fortescue founder and executive chairman, emphasised the value Hick will add to the company.

“Fiona has the natural humility and adaptiveness to flourish in Fortescue’s rare leadership environment through values, as opposed to command and control,” he said. “Fiona has the right personality to lead our metals organisation.”

Hick was previously executive vice president for Australian operations of Woodside Energy for more than 20 years. She also worked at Rio Tinto’s Pilbara mining network for several years.

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Former Core Lithium managing director Stephen Biggins has been appointed as Winsome Resources’ new non-executive chairman.

Biggins was managing director of Core Lithium for 10 years, where he led the company through the acquisition, discovery, permitting, financing, offtake and, most recently, production from the Northern Territory’s first lithium mine, the Finniss project.

Winsome Resources is advancing its flagship Cancet and Adina lithium projects in Quebec, Canada.

Biggins joins former Pilbara Minerals managing director and CEO Ken Brinsden and former Mincor Resources managing director and CEO David Southam as recent executives to make the move to Canada. Brinsden joined Patriot Battery Metals as non-executive chairman and Southam joined Cygnus Gold as managing director.

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Eastern Metals managing director and CEO Wayne Rossiter has resigned to pursue other opportunities.

As the board completes a search process for a new managing director and CEO, non-executive chairman Robert Duffin will act as executive chairman.

“Since being appointed managing director and chief executive officer in 2021, Wayne has been integral to the company’s development,” Duffin said.

“During the past year, he managed the company following its successful IPO and ASX listing in October 2021. More recently, he was instrumental in the acquisition of the Neutral Junction project from Bowgan Minerals, which has significantly strengthened the company’s strategic portfolio.”

Eastern Metals is developing its Arunta project in the Northern Territory, and Thomson and Cobar projects in New South Wales. The company acquired Neutral Junction in October.

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Atrum Coal has appointed Kelvin Flynn as an independent non-executive director following the resignation of Jeffery Gerrard as non-executive director.

As a chartered account with more than 30 years’ experience in investment banking and corporate advisory roles, Flynn has a strong understanding of private equity and special situations investments in the mining and resources sector.

He has previously been executive director/vice president of Goldman Sachs and is currently the managing director of specialist alternative funds manager Harvis.

Flynn is also a non-executive director of Mineral Resources and Silver Lake Resources.

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