On the move

Willmott to chair Cannings Purple

Strategic communications consultancy and STW Group subsidiary Cannings Purple has appointed Colin Barnett’s former chief of staff Deidre Willmott as executive chairman. Ms Willmott is a lawyer by profession and is currently director external relations at Fortescue Metals Group. She will leave FMG and start at Cannings Purple in the first quarter of next year. Ms Willmott is also vice president of the Chamber of Minerals & Energy and a member of the AMEC council.

MinRes restructures board

Mining services and processing company Mineral Resources has changed its board structure by appointing executive director Chris Ellison as managing director, while current executive chairman and managing director, Peter Wade, steps back to a role as non-executive chairman. Mr Ellison is the major shareholder of the company and a co-founder of the original businesses. Mr Wade was MinRes’ founding managing director. He was made executive chairman in 2008. In addition to having specific responsibility for the management of the board and governance processes, he will work with Mr Ellison on strategic development, corporate issues and commercial management.

Bent joins Chalice

Eritrean and Western Australian explorer Chalice Gold Mines has appointed Bill Bent as managing director. Mr Bent is vice president - business development and chief development officer at Mirabela Nickel and will join Chalice in February. Before joining Mirabela two and a half years ago, Mr Bent was a director of strategy at PwC Advisory and an associate director at Mainsheet Corporate. Previous managing director Doug Jones will remain on the board as technical director.

Waddell, Senior quit Tanami

Tanami Gold deputy chairman Denis Waddell and non-executive director Alan Senior have resigned from the board. The board has started a search for independent non-executive directors, as well as a recruitment process for a managing director/chief executive officer. Mr Waddell had been overseeing the day-to-day management since managing director Graeme Sloan resigned a year ago. The company will be managed in the interim by its senior executive team headed by general manager Andrew Czerw.