West Australian-based gold development and exploration company Kin Mining NL (ASX:KIN) has appointed highly experienced mining executive Rowan Johnston as executive chairman.
This role has been created following the resignation of managing director Andrew Munckton, who has played a “pivotal role” in the company’s exploration successes resulting in the delineation of a 1.54-million-ounce gold resource.
The change will be effective from August 1, 2023, with Munckton remaining as managing director until that time and staying with the company until August 18, 2023, to ensure an orderly leadership transition.
Experienced engineer
Johnston is an experienced mining engineer whose resources industry career spans more than 40 years, including significant experience as a company director in executive and non-executive roles.
Munckton, who has resigned to pursue other business opportunities, initially joined Kin as chief executive officer in April 2018 and was appointed managing director in July 2018.
Since then, the company has made great inroads at the Cardinia Gold Project (CGP) in the highly prospective North-Eastern Goldfields region of Western Australia and there is considerable potential to grow the resource with further drilling.
“Pivotal role”
“Along with my fellow directors and staff, I would like to acknowledge the pivotal role that Andrew played in the resetting of Kin’s future back in 2018 and in leading the Kin team through several significant discoveries and a period of resource growth,” Johnston said.
"On behalf of our board, our staff, stakeholders and our shareholders, I would like to thank Andrew for his leadership and guidance throughout his tenure with Kin. The board wishes Andrew well in his future endeavours.
"The board has commenced the search for a new leader with the appropriate skills that can continue to drive the company to the next level.”
In another related board change, Joe Graziano will step aside as chairman but remain as a non-executive director.
“Honoured to accept role”
Johnston, who is currently a non-executive director of ASX-listed PNX Metals and non-executive chairman of Gascoyne Resources, said: “I am honoured to have been invited and have accepted the role of executive chairman of Kin.
"During our search for Andrew’s replacement, we hope to clearly define our role in the Leonora consolidation and set ourselves targets for growth and expansion which the incoming CEO can run with.”