Swick appoints Orexplore MD

Swick Mining Services has appointed experienced managing director Jason Marinko to lead the company’s mineral technologies business.

Mr Marinko was the chairman of geospatial imagery company Spookfish for more than four years, having overseen its ASX listing in 2015.

He transitioned to a non-executive role before leading negotiations with North America’s largest aerial imagery and data analytics company, EagleView Technologies, which resulted in a $137 million takeover of Spookfish.

Mr Marinko, based in Perth, has since worked as a consultant at EagleView.

He was formerly an associate director of Azure Capital and Euroz, and the chief executive of Little Creatures Brewing for more than two years, where he also led its ASX listing in 2005.

Mr Marinko was also an executive director of ASX-listed Yojee for nearly two years.

He will now lead Swick’s Orexplore business, which the company acquired in 2017.

Swick, following a strategic review earlier this year, is preparing to demerge its Orexplore business.

Orexplore was trialled at two projects in the 2020 financial year, and recently secured its first commercial contract with St Barbara for its Gwalia goldmine in Leonora.

Mr Marinko said he looked forward to driving commercialisation of the Orexplore business.

Orexplore could now move to address a large potential market, Swick managing director Kent Swick said.

“I believe the wealth of experience that he [Mr Marinko] brings in managing listed companies, combined with his extensive technology and financial expertise both in Australia and overseas, will provide significant benefits to Orexplore as it moves to demerge from Swick and beyond,” Mr Swick said.

“I am confident Jason will be able to navigate the opportunity that lies ahead and look forward to working alongside him.”

Mr Marinko’s remuneration includes a $350,000 annual salary and a short-term incentive plan of up to 40 per cent of his salary plus superannuation.

Swick shares closed down 4.8 per cent to trade at 20 cents.