Kalgoorlie-based nickel company Heron Resources Ltd has appointed Mathew Longworth as its managing director, among a series of changes to the company board announced today.
Kalgoorlie-based nickel company Heron Resources Ltd has appointed Mathew Longworth as its managing director, among a series of changes to the company board announced today.
The full text of a company announcement is pasted below
In line with its planned transition from successful exploration company to a significant nickel producer, Heron Resources Ltd is pleased to announce a number of changes and new appointments to the management team in addition to the recent Board appointments of Stephen Dennis and Ken Hellsten.
Heron's current Chief Operating Officer, Mathew Longworth, moves to the position of Managing Director while current Managing Director, Ian Buchhorn, takes on the new role of executive director responsible for strategy .
Heron Chairman Craig Readhead said the moves were a natural progression for the Company indicative of its current stage of development.
"Mr Longworth's responsibilities will increase in line with his capabilities in managing the Company through the study phase to development and operations, reflecting the Company's increasing focus on its nickel developments and achieving nickel production during the current period of strong commodity prices," Mr Readhead said.
"Mr Longworth will take responsibility for the day-to-day management of the Company's projects, and importantly for Heron, as a founding director and a driving force behind the Company, Mr Buchhorn will focus his energies on strategic planning and corporate priorities."
In addition to these internal changes, the Company has also made two new appointments to it senior management team as part of the ongoing recruitment process to bolster in-house capabilities.
Mr Kevin Reynolds has joined the Company as Project Manager Jump-up Dam. Mr Reynolds is a metallurgist with over 20 years project management experience and exposure to nickel hydrometallurgy and heap leach technology.
Mr Robert Klug joins the company as Commercial Manager and General Counsel. Mr Klug brings extensive commercial and legal experience with mining companies, financial markets and major national legal practices. Mr Klug most recently held the General Manager Business Development role with a rapidly emerging national mining company.
Mr Klug and Mr Reynolds join Heron Company Secretary Sarah Calvert and Exploration Manager David von Perger, with Mr Longworth and Mr Buchhorn on the Executive Leadership Team.
Mr Readhead said the new management team was an important step in the changing focus of the Company. As Heron makes the transition to nickel production, it will shift into an intensive phase of project development, particularly at its 100 per cent-owned Jump-up Dam Project, currently targeted to commence production in 2009.
The Company has also increased its executive commitment to the Kalgoorlie Nickel Project through having Mr Dennis and Mr Hellsten join Mr Longworth and Mr Buchhorn on the KNP Joint Venture Management and Technical Committees.
Mr Readhead welcomed Mr Dennis and Mr Hellsten to the Heron Board, saying their experience would contribute greatly to the Board during this phase in the Company's development.
"Their inclusion on the KNP Management Committee will increase Heron's ability to contribute constructively to advancing the KNP for the benefit of the Company and its Shareholders and Partners.
"The ability to attract and retain the calibre of people that make the new leadership team in the current market also reflects Heron's stage of development and industry recognition of our projects."
Finally, the Board regrets to announce that it has accepted the resignation of Non-Executive Director, Dr Allan Trench, who has resigned from the Heron Board due to increased overseas business commitments.
In recognising Dr Trench's involvement with the Company, Mr Readhead said: "On behalf of the Company, the Board sincerely thanks Allan for all of his efforts since he commenced with Heron over three years ago and wishes him all the best on his new endeavours. Dr Trench has assisted in building Heron to where it stands today and he leaves the Board with the Company in a strong position.
