Evion Group NL (ASX:EVG, OTC:EVIGF) has appointed experienced finance and graphite mining executive David Round as its new managing director as the company prepares for a new phase of development and growth.
The appointment has immediate effect and follows the retirement of Tom Revy from his managing director role.
Decades of experience
Round, who has been Evion Group’s finance director for the last four years, brings many decades of corporate, finance and graphite mining experience, including in Madagascar, to the company’s primary leadership role.
He was instrumental in developing the company’s JV operations in India and managing all commercial, financial and marketing aspects of this JV.
The new MD has led the company’s development of its offtake agreements and other strategic agreements with Urbix Inc (USA) and global development partners in Europe.
Importantly for the role and the company, Round has a well-recognised knowledge of the graphite and downstream global markets and has built an extensive network after almost 10 years focused on the global graphite sector.
Has “impressed the board”
Company chair Heather Zampatti said: “We’re delighted that David has accepted our offer to take up the managing director’s role at Evion.
“He has been with the company for almost four years and has worked very closely with Tom over that period.
“David has impressed the board with his understanding of the graphite sector and has driven the development of our JV in India and the many commercial relationships around the globe.”
Retirement of Tom Revy
The retirement of Revy follows eight years with the company since its inception and he has been instrumental in many of Evion Group’s achievements since listing more than six years ago.
Revy has worked tirelessly to develop the company’s portfolio of assets and the board is grateful for the work he has undertaken over many years. He will continue to provide consulting advice to the company.
Directors appointed
In other board changes, highly regarded executives Warrick Hazeldine and Craig Lennon have agreed to join the board effective today as independent non-executive directors.
“The new appointments to the company will provide the catalyst for continued growth as we enter this exciting new phase in the development of Evion.
“On behalf of the company, I’d like to acknowledge and thank Tom for his tireless efforts to drive Evion into a production company with significant future growth opportunities.”
New directors Hazeldine and Lennan bring significant corporate, mining and investor relations experience to the board and say they are delighted to have joined the company at this stage of its growth.
About Warrick Hazeldine
Hazeldine, a founding director or investor and corporate communications firm Purple (formerly Cannings Purple), has more than 20 years of capital markets experience working with a range of ASX-listed companies on investor relations activities to attract capital and grow shareholder value.
He has worked predominantly in the natural resources sector, focusing on initial public offerings, mergers & acquisitions and secondary capital raisings.
In recent years Hazeldine has played a key role in several lithium, hydrogen and battery materials transactions. He has an established network across the global resources and generalist funds and a track record in assisting companies build and manage their institutional and retail investor bases.
He is chair of battery materials company ChemX Materials and former chair and non-executive director of Global Lithium Resources.
Craig Lennon’s experience
Lennon was previously the CEO of established lithium and graphite exploration company Greenwing Resources and he was instrumental in introducing funding partners to that company as part of their strategic investments in Argentina.
He was previously managing director and CEO of ASX-listed Highlands Pacific Ltd from 2016 to 2019 and prior to that was CFO for nine years. Highlands, which had assets focused in Papua New Guinea, was taken over by Cobalt 27 Capital Corp in May 2019.
Lennon has vast experience working internationally with funding partners and corporate transactions including joint ventures, mergers & acquisitions, capital raisings and debt funding.
He is currently the head of Asia Pacific for TSXV-listed Nickel 28 Capital Corp, a leading battery metals investment vehicle, and he has a strong understanding of the growth opportunities available to the graphite and downstream processing-related sectors.