TORONTO, Jan. 17 /CNW/ - The Board of Directors of SouthernEra announced today that it has completed its search for a new senior management team, naming Patrick C. Evans as President and Chief Executive Officer and William Machiel ("Mike") Eksteen as Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer.
Dr. Chris Jennings, Chairman and founder of SouthernEra, said that the appointment of Messrs. Evans and Eksteen "provides the Company with the leadership and experience it needs to become a significant producer of platinum group metals in addition to its expanding diamond operations."
Patrick Evans, 45, was most recently a senior executive with Placer Dome in South Africa. He served on the executive committees of both Placer Dome South Africa and the Placer Dome - Western Areas Joint Venture. He played a central role in Placer Dome's expansion into South Africa with its acquisition of a 50% interest in South Deep, one of the country's largest gold mines. Mr. Evans, a dual South African and British citizen, will be based in Toronto. His broad background and experience includes undergraduate training in resource management, materials engineering, African government and law and post graduate training in commodity trading through the Chicago Board of Trade. Through a distinguished career with the South African government he held a number of senior leadership posts in economic planning and international trade, serving in Chicago, Washington and Ottawa and as Consul General to Canada. Mr. Evans has been a director of SouthernEra for nearly three years. He is also a director of Messina Limited and a member of the executive council of the Chamber of Mines of South Africa. "Patrick combines an intimate knowledge of SouthernEra with an excellent grasp of the economic and political issues influencing the financing, development and operation of mines in Africa, where most of our assets are located," said Dr. Jennings. "He will provide outstanding leadership to our company."
Mike Eksteen, 52, is a mining engineer with 35 years of operating experience in a range of commodities, including platinum group metals, gold and base metals. He had 33 years of continuous service within the Gold Fields group of companies, of which 13 were as chief operating officer (mine general manager). His last position with Gold Fields was as chief operating officer (mine general manager) of Kloof Gold Mine, one of South Africa's premier gold producers. Since 1995 Mr. Eksteen has served as General Manager of Northam Platinum Mine Ltd. During this five-year period, he was instrumental in obtaining significant improvements in operating and financial performance at the Zondereinde mine, one of South Africa's largest platinum mines. As General Manager he was responsible for all aspects of reserve development, mine planning, shaft sinking, budgeting and cost controls. "Our Messina PGM project could not have more experienced leadership than will be provided by Mike Eksteen. His appointment gives us the assurance that all our operations will be well managed and, in particular, that this vital asset will be competently guided through its development and operation," said Dr. Jennings. Mr. Eksteen will be located in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Mr. Evans will begin his duties effective March 1, 2001, while Mr. Eksteen assumes his position effective immediately.
SouthernEra Resources Limited is a diamond mining and exploration company and an emerging platinum group metals producer. The common shares of SouthernEra are traded under the symbol SUF on the Toronto Stock Exchange. SouthernEra owns 70.4 percent of Messina Limited, which is listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange under the symbol MES.
For further information
PLEASE CONTACT: SouthernEra Resources Limited, Christopher M.H. Jennings, Chairman Office: 011-27-11-442-6923, Cell: 011-27-82-600-5792
Rudi P. Fronk, Director Telephone: (416) 359-9282, Fax: (416) 359-9141, e-mail: inbox@southernera.com
PHIL |
