Oar Resources Ltd (ASX:OAR) has appointed a new CEO and managing director, Justin Richard, effective immediately.
Richard, who started his professional life as a lawyer, is a mining executive with more than 15 years’ experience in senior resource sector roles, in Australia and internationally.
Considerable achievements
He was most recently managing director of the ASX-listed Alara Resources (ASX:AUQ) Ltd, where he led that company through a series of breakthroughs including multiple capital raising activities, a bankable feasibility study, a maiden ore reserve, an offtake agreement and securing the first copper mining licence for an international joint venture in the Sultanate of Oman.
Richard’s breadth of knowledge in the corporate and resource sectors has driven the success of several junior publicly listed resources companies.
He holds an MBA from the prestigious London School of Business, has held board roles with several mining companies, is a Fellow of the Governance Institute and the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, and is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Justin Richard
Focus on battery minerals
The new CEO and MD has specific expertise in presenting globally to the mining and resource industry on the growing demand for battery minerals and the role they play in a sustainable future.
In his role with OAR, Richard will deploy his skills to drive shareholder value. Top of the list of priorities will be conducting a thorough review of the company’s projects and strategy, maximising opportunities and setting out its next steps.
OAR’s chairman Chris Gale said: “We are excited to have Justin join OAR at an important point in the company’s development, to assist us in progressing our project portfolio, including the Crown nickel, copper and platinum group project and Nevada gold assets.
“He brings a wealth of corporate and management experience, having delivered projects in multiple jurisdictions and worked with governments and stakeholders to achieve project success.
“Justin has a deep and practical understanding of the requirements to implement and operate a modern mining project and this will help ensure that OAR successfully delivers the next phase of its development strategy.”
Board restructure
Changes are also underway at board level. OAR welcomes Anthony Greenaway as a non-executive director in the role of technical director. Greenaway’s appointment will strengthen the company’s technical expertise at a senior level.
Chris Gale will move from his role as executive chairman to non-executive chairman once Justin Richard’s probationary period ends, and Joseph van den Elsen is set to retire. The board has thanked him for his contribution to the company over the period of his tenure.