Bellevue Gold Ltd (ASX:BGL) has made key management changes to provide optimal guidance as it transitions to the start of production and generation of cashflow at the Bellevue Gold Project in Western Australia.
Chief executive officer Darren Stralow, who has been in the role since December 2021, has been appointed managing director and CEO with effect from March 1, 2023.
This will see Steve Parsons finish his six-year tenure as managing director, moving to a non-executive director role from March 1.
Parsons has led the business from the initial Tribune lode discovery through to development and construction of the gold project.
“Created immense value”
Chair Kevin Tomlinson said: “On behalf of the board, I would like to thank Steve for the exceptional job he has done in turning our company from what was not much more than a shell with a mothballed asset into Australia’s next major gold producer.
“Steve has created immense value for Bellevue stakeholders by recognising and unlocking the opportunity at Bellevue.
"He has achieved this by establishing an outstanding team, inspiring them to go above and beyond at every turn and conveying the enormous value of our project to investors in Australia and around the world.
“I look forward to him continuing to share his knowledge and experience as a director of Bellevue.”
COO appointed
Another key move for BGL to assist the transition is the appointment of experienced mining engineer Bill Stirling as chief operating officer with effect from March 1. He has been Bellevue’s general manager since January 2022.
Tomlinson said the appointments reflected the company’s immense achievements and the strength of its management team.
“The right time”
“The Bellevue project is in the extremely enviable position of being one of the few resources projects which are being developed on time and on budget,” he said. “This is testament to the quality, depth and experience of our management team and contractors.
“As a result of this achievement, Bellevue is set to start production later this year. With this in mind, it is the right time to appoint the team who will lead our company into the next highly rewarding phase of its growth and development."
Northern Star experience
Stralow is a mining engineer with extensive commercial and operational experience.
Before joining the company, he was chief development officer at Northern Star Resources. He also held several other senior positions at Northern Star and led the integration of that company’s Australian business units - Jundee, Kanowna Belle and EKJV Operations.
As Bellevue’s CEO, Stralow has led the project development team, including the appointment of key contractors, continuing to implement an industry-leading ESG strategy, the acquisition of major equipment and camp construction.
He has also played a leading role in ongoing funding activities, including the recent capital raising and debt draw-down.
Operational roles
New COO Stirling also previously held senior positions at Northern Star, including Jundee gold mine general manager, Kalgoorlie Operations (Kanowna Belle, Kundana, SKO) general manager and Bronzewing general manager.
He was also responsible for major operational expansion projects at Jundee, contract negotiations, capital projects, team development and systems implementation.
“Darren’s extensive experience on both the operational and commercial fronts means he is perfectly positioned to lead Bellevue into this next chapter,” Tomlinson added.
“He will be extremely well-supported by Bill and our wider executive team, all of whom have played key roles in the company’s success to date.”