Matador Mining Ltd (ASX:MZZ, OTCQX:MZZMF) has strengthened its leadership with the appointment of Sam Pazuki to the position of managing director and CEO.
In addition, Mick Wilkes, who was a non-executive director, has retired from the board to pursue new opportunities.
Furthermore, former executive chairman Ian Murray has transitioned to the role in a non-executive capacity.
Focus on greenfields exploration
Welcoming the new appointment, Matador non-executive chairman Ian Murray said: I am also pleased to announce Sam’s appointment to the board as managing director.
“The company is embarking on exciting times, and I am confident that Sam is the right person to lead the company as we pivot our strategy to focus more heavily on our greenfields exploration program.
“The work we have completed over the past year, including a comprehensive magnetic survey and field work through geochemical testing, has identified numerous high priority targets.
This includes the Malachite area which sits approximately 20 kilometres north of our existing 837,000-ounce resource within our 120-kilometre strike tenement package on the multi-million-ounce Cape Ray Shear [in Newfoundland,Canada].
“We believe now is the right time to target and explore for multi-million-ounce discoveries along our extensive tenement package.”
“Emerging top-tier jurisdiction”
Commenting on his appointment, Matador managing director and CEO Sam Pazuki said: “I am looking forward to working with the Board of Directors and the well-established Matador team in advancing a world-class exploration program in a top-tier jurisdiction.
“I commence my tenure as MD and CEO with a company that already has a solid foundation thanks to Ian Murray’s leadership, and I will look to build upon the successes the team has achieved to-date.
“Newfoundland is an emerging top-tier jurisdiction with highly supportive stakeholders, an abundance of skilled workers and extensive infrastructure, and Matador’s significant land position along the most prolific geological gold structure on the island positions us well to make new gold discoveries.
“Our strategy will be to identify new drill-ready targets as quickly and safely as we can ahead of diamond drilling on the multi-million-ounce Cape Ray Shear and along other targets including our Hermitage property in the southeast.
“This strategy will be designed to create significant value for shareholders.”
Outgoing director
Outgoing non-executive director Mick Wilkes said: “I would like to thank Ian and my fellow directors for the opportunity to serve for a company that has a very talented workforce exploring a highly prospective and extensive tenement package.
“I believe Matador has a bright future with enormous potential for making new discoveries. With the company rightly focusing on a greenfield exploration strategy and with my recent appointment as chairman for another publicly listed company, I felt the time was right to step down from the board.
“I had the pleasure of working with Sam at OceanaGold and he is truly the right fit for the company and its shareholders, and I wish him all the best in this new chapter of his career.”
Murray adds: “I would like to take this opportunity to thank Mick for his contributions to Matador over the past two years.
“Mick is a consummate professional who has a proven track record as a mining engineer in successfully developing and operating mines globally.
“His contributions and guidance to the board have positioned the company well for future successes. On behalf of the Board of Directors, I wish Mick all the best in his future endeavours.”