Perth-based Venus Resources has appointed former United Minerals Corporation chief Matthew Hogan as managing director.
Mr Hogan was previously a non-executive director on the Venus Board since its formation in 2006.
Mr Hogan presided over UMC when it discovered the Railway iron ore deposit in the Pilbara, the main trigger for the company to be taken over by mining giant BHP Billiton.
The $204 million acquisition was completed last month.
Venus recently completed a $4 million share subscription agreement and an $8 million farm-in agreement with HD Mining & Investment Pty Ltd, a subsidiary of Shandong's Provincial Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources.
The farm in agreement was over Venus' Yalgoo iron ore project in the Mid West.
Venus today said the planning of an aggressive exploration program is underway.
Shares in Venus jumped 12 cents, or 18.5 per cent, to 77c at 14:03 AEDT.
