6th Jul 2006 07:00
Metals Exploration PLC06 July 2006 Metals Exploration Plc ("Metals Ex" or "the Company") Appointment of Chief Executive Officer 6th July 2006 Metals Exploration Plc is pleased to announce the appointment of Jonathan PaulBingham Beardsworth, aged 50, as a director and Chief Executive Officer.Jonathan will join the Company from Standard Bank Plc where he is currently thehead of the London office of Standard Bank's Mining and Metals group, withresponsibility also for the Group's Moscow and Shanghai offices. For the last 12 years Jonathan has been engaged exclusively in providingcorporate finance, strategic advisory, and project finance advisory services tothe mining and metals sector. He joined Warrior International, the miningcorporate finance boutique, in 1994 and moved to Standard Bank when Warrior wasacquired by Standard Bank in 1997. He has been responsible for buildingStandard Bank's mining business in Europe and in China and was appointed to hiscurrent position earlier this year. Jonathan has participated in and led a variety of M&A transactions in the miningindustry around the world. Last year one of his deals won the DevelopmentFunding Award at the Mining Journal's Outstanding Achievements Awards for theinvestment by China Metallurgical Construction (Group) Corporation ("MCC") intothe Ramu nickel project in Papua New Guinea, a deal which remains the largestoffshore mining investment contemplated by China to date. The Board is confident that Jonathan's experience and track record of mining andcorporate finance in developing economies will make a major contribution to thecontinued successful development of the Company's strategy. It is anticipatedthat Jonathan will assume his new responsibilities in September. Jonathan Beardsworth commented, "I am excited at the prospect of joining MetalsEx as CEO. I have been most impressed with the quality of assets they haveacquired, worked up, and added value to in the short time since they listed onAIM two years ago. I look forward to making my own contribution to the futuredevelopment of this exciting company." Steven Smith, Chairman said, "I am delighted to welcome Jonathan to the Board ofMetals Ex. The fact that we can attract an individual of his quality istestament to the huge strides that the Company has made to establish itself as a credible exploration company with quality assets. I look forward to workingwith Jonathan to realise Metals Ex's goals." There are no other requirements of AIM Rule Schedule 2(g) that fall to bedisclosed. Enquiries: Steven Smith Chairman + 44 (0) 7797 721 858Gary Powell Executive Director (technical) + 63 (02) 894 4173Jonathan Anderson Investor Relations + 44 (0) 7950 410 680 or + 63 (0) 917 560 6654Philip Haydn-Slater/Paul Dudley WH Ireland Limited + 44 (0) 20 7220 1666 This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock ExchangeRelated Shares:
Metals Exploration