Katanga Announces Appointment of Chief Executive Officer
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM--(Marketwire - Dec. 22, 2009) - Katanga Mining Limited (TSX:KAT)("Katanga" or the "Company") today announces the appointment of Mr. John Ross as the Chief Executive Officer and director of Katanga. Mr. Ross, who is currently Katanga's Chief Operating Officer, will replace Mr. Steven Isaacs who has resigned as Interim Chief Executive Officer effective January 4, 2010. Mr. Isaacs will remain as a non executive director of the Company.
Mr. Isaacs has acted as Interim CEO while Katanga's Board of Directors continued its rigorous process of searching for and appointing a permanent CEO, as previously disclosed. As a result of that process, the Corporate Governance and Nominations Committee of Katanga's Board of Directors has recommended, and the Board of Directors has accepted, the appointment of Mr. Ross as the CEO and a director of Katanga. The Corporate Governance and Nominations Committee identified Mr. Ross as an exceptional candidate for the position of CEO of Katanga as he has made a significant contribution to the operations of the Company and has detailed knowledge of its project and markets.
During his tenure at the Company as Interim CEO, Mr. Isaacs has overseen the successful completion of the Company's US$250 million rights offering, the amendment of its Kamoto Copper Company Joint Venture Agreement with La Generale des Carrieres et des Mines, the implementation of cost cutting initiatives since the beginning of 2009 and the acceleration of the ramp-up of the Company's project in the Katanga Province in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
"On behalf of the Board of Directors, I would like to thank Steven for his many contributions as Interim CEO of Katanga. Steven has played a key role in the growth of the Company and we look forward to his continuing contribution as a Katanga director," stated Mr. Hugh Stoyell, Chairman of the Board. "We are very excited to welcome John to this role on our leadership team. We believe he has the skill and vision necessary to help guide Katanga as it continues towards the next stage of ramp-up of production."
John Ross
John Ross joined Katanga in May 2008 to oversee metallurgical operations and project integration. Mr. Ross has over twenty years experience in mining and engineering, having previously worked with Rio Tinto in South Africa and the United States, Port Kembla Copper in Australia and more recently with Glencore International companies at Mopani Copper Mines in Zambia and Mutanda y Mukonkota Sprl in the DRC. While at Mopani Copper Mines, Mr. Ross was accountable for metallurgical operations and project management, specifically with regards to the Mufulira smelter and concentrator. Mr. Ross graduated from the Camborne School of Mines, UK, with a B.Eng in Minerals Engineering.
About Katanga Mining Limited
Katanga Mining Limited operates a major mine complex in the Democratic Republic of Congo producing refined copper and cobalt. The company has the potential to become Africa's largest copper producer and the world's largest cobalt producer. Katanga is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol KAT.