Southern Gold Ltd (ASX:SAU) continues to strengthen its leadership team with two significant appointments in the field of technology and battery innovation, which come on the heels of the recent announcement of a general manager for wholly owned subsidiary Iondrive Technologies Pty Ltd (IDT).
Technology commercialisation expertise
The company has appointed John Rock to the board as a non-executive director while Jeff Ritoe steps into the role of strategic advisor for the commercialisation of IDT’s battery technologies.
Rock's appointment brings a wealth of technology commercialisation expertise to the Southern Gold board.
His appointment as a non-executive director further augments Southern Gold's board. His strong leadership, entrepreneurial acumen and commercialisation experience are expected to provide valuable insights to the company's growth.
As a co-founder and director of OTB Ventures, Rock has been actively involved with the IDT business since its inception and his involvement is set to bolster Southern Gold's ability to manage projects effectively and drive successful outcomes.
Rock’s role at OTB Ventures involves finding, nurturing and commercialising early-stage university technologies, making him well-suited to drive technological innovation and advancement in the battery industry.
Critical mineral supply chains
Meanwhile, Ritoe's appointment brings the company extensive expertise in battery materials and critical mineral supply chains, with a focus on Europe and the US.
This experience is invaluable as Southern Gold accelerates the commercialisation of battery material technologies via IDT while continuing its core business of battery and precious metals exploration in South Korea.
Southern Gold managing director Robert Smillie said: “We are excited to welcome John Rock and Jeff Ritoe to our team. They bring valuable expertise and experience to Southern Gold.
“Their appointments signify our dedication to driving technological innovation and advancing the commercialisation of our battery technologies.
“With their contributions and our ventures in South Korea's raw material sector, we are well-positioned to make significant strides in the battery industry.”