Junior miner South Harz Potash Ltd., West Perth, Western Australia, reported on May 20 the appointment of its existing Chairman, Ian Farmer, to the role of Acting Executive Chairman. This appointment follows the immediate departure of previous Managing Director and CEO Chris Gilchrist from the business.
“I am pleased to assume the role of Executive Chairman to facilitate the current senior leadership transition,” said Farmer. “South Harz is moving through an exciting phase with the recent completion of the Ohmgebirge confirmatory drilling, coupled with the scheduled resource update and then Scoping Study completion.
“I look forward to actively driving the business through this phase as we rapidly progress our South Harz Potash assets through development and into production,” Farmer continued. “On behalf of the Board and all shareholders, I would like to thank Chris for his commitment and dedicated service to South Harz over the past four years. We wish him well in both his future professional and personal endeavors.”
A global search process for the appointment of South Harz’s next CEO is underway. Upon that appointment, it is expected that Farmer will step back from executive duties and resume the role of Non-Executive Chairman.
Alongside this process, the company plans to establish its key operational management and personnel hub in Thuringia, Germany. This will place the core operational team in the South Harz region as the business seeks to rapidly advance its potash assets through development and into production.
The company noted that Farmer is a U.K.-based, highly experienced mining executive. He served as CEO of Lonmin plc, the third largest platinum miner globally, between 2008-2012, during which he oversaw a period of significant transformation, both operationally and financially.
During his 26 years at Lonmin and its parent company, Lonrho plc, he held various other senior financial and management positions, including the role of Chief Strategy Officer from 2001-2008. He also led the acquisition of various junior mining projects and their integration into the Lonmin group.