Aurum Resources is sharpening its boardroom edge with the appointment of capital markets veteran Richard Simpson as non-executive chairman, effective at the start of February.
Simpson will step into the role with more than 40 years in the game, spanning mergers and acquisitions, capital markets, corporate advisory and executive leadership.
His CV reads like a who's-who of Perth's finance scene. He was executive director at Euroz Hartleys Limited until 2024 and before that, spent nearly two decades at Hartleys Limited in senior roles, including as managing director and executive chairman.
He also led the 2003 management buy-out of Hartleys and steered its 2020 merger with Euroz.
Simpson is a Perth local, having kicked off his career as a petroleum engineer before cutting his teeth in London's Natural Resources team at NM Rothschild & Sons. That was followed by a stint at Salomon Brothers - now Citigroup - in Sydney and Melbourne.
Since 1994, he has advised countless mining, oil, gas, and infrastructure players in Perth.
Aurum says it is bullish on what Simpson brings to the table, adding deep capital markets nous and sharp strategic insight to help steer the company through its next growth phase, with a particular focus on unlocking value at its flagship Boundiali gold project in Côte d’Ivoire and across West Africa.
With a solid 2.41 million-ounce JORC-compliant gold resource at Boundiali and ongoing, aggressive infill diamond drilling programs underway ahead of an imminent pre-feasibility study, the timing feels right for seasoned leadership to help unlock the next phase.
Troy Flannery will soon hand over the Chairman’s reins to Simpson but, in the interests of a smooth transition, he will continue to contribute as a non-executive director, ensuring a seamless handover as the company pushes forward.
With ongoing drilling successes reinforcing the project's growing scale and potential and a refreshed board in place, Aurum looks set to build on its current momentum in the increasingly significant West African gold jurisdiction of Côte d'Ivoire.
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By Doug Bright
