Former state government bureaucrat Gary Stokes has been appointed the managing director of aspiring iron ore miner Padbury Mining, replacing Franco Mestichelli who lasted just three months in the role.
Mr Stokes was deputy director general of the former Department of Industry and Resources but left that role after becoming emboiled in a Corruption and Crime Commission inquiry into lobbyist Brian Burke.
Since leaving government, Mr Stokes has been the top executive of Magna Mining and West Australian Metals.
He left West Australian Metals last year after the Corruption and Crime Commission recommended that the Director of Public Prosecution prosecute him for engaging in serious misconduct for supplying information to Mr Burke.
His Padbury appointment comes four weeks after the comany announced that Mr Mestichelli was leaving.
Mr Mestichelli was appointed managing director on 2 July 2009, the same day that Luke Innes replaced Peter Remta as chairman, and resigned on 2 October 2009.
Padbury's announcement is below:
The Board of Padbury Mining Limited (ASX: PDY) is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr Gary Stokes as Managing Director, effective from Monday, 2 November 2009. Mr Stokes will will assume day-to-day responsibility for management of the company.
Mr Stokes previously held the positions of chief executive officer of Magna Mining NL and managing director, West Australian Metals Ltd.
He brings a wealth of experience in mining projects having been responsible for Magna's interests in diamonds and mineral sands in Namibia and with West Australian Metal's uranium ambitions in Namibia. He was a former senior government executive where he was responsible for managing government involvement in mining and infrastructure projects, including the management of State Agreements for major mining operations throughout the State.
He has had experience in promoting iron ore projects to steel mills in China, Korea and Japan; and uranium to interests in Russia, India, China and Taiwan. He has international trade experience in markets such as the USA, EU, Middle East and South East Asia.
Mr Stokes holds a Bachelor of Business (Accounting) degree, is a Freeman of the City of London and is a Justice of the Peace.
Mr Stokes will receive a remuneration package of $170,000 plus statutory superannuation, to be reviewed annually by the Board.
