White Rock Minerals Ltd (ASX:WRM, OTCQX:WRMCF) has thanked outgoing CEO and managing director Matt Gill for his efforts in transforming the company into a gold producer and welcomes another highly experienced mining executive in Simon Finnis as an executive director.
After seven years at the helm and following the completion of its portfolio transformation and the achievement of several key pillars of its growth strategy, Gill has decided to step down from his roles.
He will, however, remain on the board as a non-executive director until the end of this month and will fulfil an advisor role with White Rock thereafter to assist Simon Finnis to maintain corporate continuity and to aid in the transition as his responsibilities wind down.
“Logical time for transition”
Gill and the WRM board believe now is a logical time for a leadership transition following the recent first gold production at the Woods Point Gold Project in Victoria, Australia.
Matt Gill.
Under Gill’s stewardship, the company has also acquired and expanded its Red Mountain silver-rich zinc VMS and IRGS gold project in Alaska from just 16 to 860 square kilometres, delivered an exploration program that generated a new JORC resource and identified multiple drill targets. This asset is now ready for its next phase of growth.
Additionally, White Rock’s founding asset – the Mt Carrington gold and silver project in northern New South Wales - is advancing under an exploration earn-in joint venture with ASX-listed Thomson Resources, where this asset is shaping up to be an integral part of that company’s hub and spoke consolidation strategy.
Executive “of the highest quality”
WRM chair Peter Mangano said: “I have nothing but respect for Matt’s leadership during my time at White Rock. He is an executive of the highest quality who has acted with integrity during his time at White Rock. The board and I wish Matt all the best for the future.”
Gill said: “After what has been an incredible journey over the past seven years, I believe now is the right time to hand over the reins to a new executive director to take this company forward into the next decade.
"I am immensely proud of everything the White Rock team has achieved during my tenure – which has seen the company evolve from a micro junior explorer to successful explorer, acquirer, developer and now gold producer with a very exciting future with its three assets across two continents (Australia and USA).”
“A strong foundation”
"We have built up an incredible team of people, a strong culture, fit-for-purpose systems and a business underpinned by quality assets,” Gill added
"With first gold by White Rock now poured at our Woods Point Gold Project, White Rock has a strong foundation for the next decade, with significant growth opportunities ahead of it with the Red Mountain and Mt Carrington assets. I look forward to watching the future growth and success of the Company into the future.”
Global mining experience
Finnis joins White Rock following his resignation from the CEO and MD role at KGL Resources. He has more than 30 years of global mining experience across a range of roles.
Simon Finnis.
Most significantly, he was managing director and CEO of Metro Mining Ltd (ASX:MMI) where he oversaw the development and subsequent operation of the Bauxite Hills Mine in Far North Queensland.
Finnis has held a number of managerial and operational roles in mining in Australia and internationally including CEO of Grande Cote Operations (Senegal, West Africa) during its development and operational phases.
Importantly, he has more than 20 years in hands-on operational roles in mining and 10 years as a CEO/MD with Australian-listed mining, development and exploration companies.
“An exciting time”
In relation to his appointment, Finnis said: “I am pleased to be joining White Rock at this time, the first gold is always an exciting time and the team at Woods Point is doing a terrific job.
"I also congratulate Matt on his tenure and hope to be able to assist with the growth profile at Woods Point and also contribute to the long-term strategy with the other assets.”