Piedmont Lithium Inc (ASX:PLL, NASDAQ:PLL, XETRA:) has unveiled two senior management changes following the decision by its chief operating officer David Klanecky to take up a position with another company.
Klanecky, who has accepted the position of CEO of Retriev Technologies, the largest diverse lithium-ion battery processer in North America, will continue as a member of Piedmont’s external technical advisory board and community foundation.
Piedmont’s current chief development officer Patrick Brindle will take over the reins as COO going forward.
“Positively electric” future
Piedmont CEO Keith Phillips said: “Our mission in 2022 is the successful execution of our near-term goals including advancing permits and approvals for our flagship Carolina Lithium Project, expanding our business plans to produce 60,000 tons per year of lithium hydroxide with a second lithium conversion plant, bringing our North American lithium mine back into production with our partner Sayona Mining, and completing a feasibility study at Atlantic Lithium’s Ewoyaa Project in Ghana.
“We have grown from a team of four employees two years ago to 30 today, including a deep technical team.
“We are also blessed with strong partners at our businesses in Canada and Ghana, which are both pursuing accelerated development schedules to capitalise on strong lithium market conditions.
“With Sayona Mining projecting first production from the restart of North American Lithium in 2023, Atlantic Lithium planning first production at the Ewoyaa project in 2024, and our own projects advancing towards their construction decisions, Piedmont Lithium’s future is positively electric.”
Klanecky continues as strategic advisor
Phillips continued: "David has been a great teammate and I’m happy for him to have received this opportunity to be CEO of Retriev, a private company with sizeable existing operations and an exciting growth path.
“We are pleased to have David continue his association with the company as both a strategic advisor and as a member of our Community Foundation, something he has been passionately involved in developing.”
Brindle background
Brindle, who joined the company in January 2018, has led the company’s technical and strategic efforts, including advancing its flagship Carolina Lithium Project and leading its strategic investments in Sayona Mining in Quebec and Atlantic Lithium in Ghana.
“Having helped create our world-class and geographically diversified asset base, Patrick is uniquely positioned within our team to lead a transformation of Piedmont Lithium from a development stage company into production and operations on the most practically achievable timelines possible.”