Oklo Resources Ltd (ASX:OKU) has appointed Mark Connelly as non-executive chairman of the company effective immediately.
Connelly is a seasoned financial and commercial executive with extensive resource industry experience in CEO and managing director roles with several successful resource development and mining companies across multiple jurisdictions including Australia, North America, South America, Africa and Europe.
Deal-making in Africa
His impressive track record for deal-making in Africa includes the US$570 million merger of Papillon Resources with B2Gold Corp (TSE:BTO) in October 2014 and the USD$600 million merger of Adamus Resources with Endeavour Mining Corp (TSE:EDV) in September 2011.
Connelly was the recipient of Mining Journal’s Outstanding Achievement - CEO of the Year 2014 Award for his outstanding contribution to Papillon Resources.
He currently holds a number of other directorships in resource and engineering service companies.
READ: Oklo Resources confirms second bedrock discovery at Kouroufing; drilling continues at Dandoko
Oklo managing director Simon Taylor said: “We are delighted that Mark has accepted our invitation to join the Board as Chairman.
“He not only brings extensive industry knowledge but key leadership and corporate skills that will greatly benefit Oklo as it advances towards the next stages of its development.”
READ: Oklo Resources exercises option to acquire 65% of Sari Gold Project in Mali
Connelly said: “I am pleased to be joining the Board of Oklo given my prior association with several highly successful gold companies in West Africa, including as Managing Director of Papillon Resources following the world-class Fekola gold discovery in Mali.
“Oklo is a compelling opportunity to join forces with another well-credentialed exploration team, including my former Papillon colleague Andrew Boyd, that is successfully advancing a highly prospective yet underexplored portfolio of gold projects neighbouring Fekola.”
With this new appointment, Oklo’s outgoing chairman Simon O’Loughlin will move to a non-executive director role and continue his involvement with the company.