Goldcorp Inc. (TSX:G) is getting its fourth chief executive in four years. Kevin McArthur retired at yearend to be replaced by Chuck Jeannes, formerly executive VP of corporate development. McArthur took over as CEO in late 2006, succeeding Ian Telfer, now chairman, at the time of Goldcorp's takeover of Glamis Gold, where McArthur had been CEO. Telfer had been appointed to Goldcorp's top job in early 2005, taking over from founder Rob McEwen after Goldcorp's merger with Wheaton River Minerals, where Telfer had been chairman and CEO. McArthur will remain a director and will serve through 2009 as adviser to the CEO. Jeannes joined Goldcorp with the takeover of Glamis, where he had been executive VP. Goldcorp is based in Vancouver with operations throughout the Americas.
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Damian Towns has joined CanAlaska Uranium Ltd. (TSXV:CVV) as its new CFO. Since 2006, Towns has been the CFO of Coro Mining, where he will continue in a part-time capacity. Gordon Steblin, who had been CanAlaska's CFO for the past six years, has left to pursue personal interests. Based in Vancouver, CanAlaska explores for uranium in Canada's Athabasca Basin.
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Alberta Star Development Corp. (TSXV:ASX) has appointed Gord Steblin, CGA, as its new CFO. Steblin brings more than 20 years of experience in the mining industry. Chantal Schutz, the former CFO, will remain as a consultant. ASX says it plans to delay its 2009 exploration program due to unfavourable market conditions, but will continue to evaluate acquisition opportunities. Alberta Star is a Vancouver company that acquires advanced-stage base- and precious-metals and uranium exploration projects in Canada.
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* Response Biomedical Corp. (TSX:RBM) says CFO and VP of finance Robert Pilz has left the company. Livleen Kaler, director of finance and administration, has assumed those duties. Response manufactures and markets rapid onsite diagnostic tests for clinical and environmental applications. Its head office is in Vancouver.
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Lorne Anderson, a director of Skyline Gold Corp. (TSXV:SK), has assumed the role of Skyline's CFO. Former CFO Jeff Smulders remains a director of the company. Based in Richmond, Skyline is developing a property in B.C.'s Golden Triangle.
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Don Thomson has joined Burnaby-based Caron Business Solutions as its new chief technology officer. For the past five years, he has been CTO of a California company that delivers business process services to enterprise customers. Caron is a firm of strategic management and technology consultants.
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Benton Resources Corp. (TSXV:BTC) has named Evan Asselstine, CA, as its CFO replacing Clinton Barr, who will remain as a director and VP of exploration. Vancouver-based Benton, which is focused on base and precious-metal exploration, recently graduated to Tier 1 status on the TSX Venture Exchange.
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Petaquilla Minerals Ltd. (TSX:PTQ) has appointed Joao Manuel as COO. Manuel previously was CFO of Petaquilla Copper Ltd. until its sale to Inmet Mining in September 2008. Petaquilla Minerals is an emerging gold producer with head office in Vancouver.
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Streetlight Intelligence Inc. (TSXV:SLQ) has hired Michael Shannon as COO. Prior to joining SLQ, Shannon served as CEO/COO of Imaging Dynamics Corp. from 2007 to 2008. Streetlight Intelligence develops advanced street-light systems. It is headquartered in Victoria.
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Alpha Gold Corp. (TSXV:ALQ) reports that its president and CEO, George Whatley, has died. He had been CEO since 1991. Based in Coquitlam, Alpha Gold is a mineral exploration company whose wholly owned Lustdust Property is located in central B.C.
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Eira Thomas, previously serving as CEO of Stornoway Diamond Corp. (TSX:SWY), has assumed a new role as executive chairman. President Matt Manson has assumed an expanded role as president and CEO. Concurrently, Thomas is taking a four-month maternity leave. In addition, the company has promoted David Skelton to VP of project development. Skelton previously acted as senior project manager. Stornoway is a diamond exploration and development company based in Vancouver.
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John MacPhail has been appointed the new CEO of Union Securities Ltd., while Arden Cornford becomes the new president. The positions were previously held by John Thompson (vice-chairman) and Norman Thompson Jr. (chairman). MacPhail joined Union Securities in 2007 as executive VP and managing director of capital markets. Cornford was formerly executive VP of corporate and regulatory affairs. “These changes represent the natural evolution of the firm from a family-run business, founded over 45 years ago,” said John Thompson in a release. Union Securities is an independent Vancouver-based investment dealer with branches across Canada.
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Dale Peterson has resigned as CEO and president and a director of Fireswirl Technologies Inc. (TSXV: FSW). Tony Lau, company co-founder and a director, is appointed CEO while Ji Yoon, a company director, becomes interim CFO. Fireswirl has been a developer of gaming and entertainment software since 1999. The New Westminster company also sells mobile handsets and provides services for the telecommunications industry.
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After 42 years in the business world, Bernardo Rico has retired as president, CEO and a director of Avantec Technologies Inc. (TSXV:AVV). Jerry Minni has been appointed as interim president. Avantec manufactures antimicrobials for water purification, cooling water, food surface sanitation and odor elimination. Its head office is in Vancouver.
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Goldsource Mines Inc. (TSXV:GXS) has hired Wendy Mathison as VP of operations. Mathison previously was the VP of operations for Peregrine Diamonds Ltd. Goldsource is a Vancouver-based coal miner focused on Saskatchewan and Manitoba.
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Jim Bradshaw, formerly president and COO of Taiga Building Products Ltd. (TSX:TBL), has been promoted to chief executive with the move of Kooi Ong Tong to the role of executive chairman. Bradshaw has worked for Taiga for 32 years. Taiga said Cam White has been named COO in addition to his role as Taiga’s executive VP of sales and operations, while Doug Morris, executive VP of supply and major accounts, will retire March 31. Taiga is a Burnaby-based wholesale distributor of building products with sales across North America and overseas.
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Lloyd Craig will be retiring next year as Coast Capital Savings’ president and CEO. Craig, who was then CEO of Surrey Metro Savings, took the helm of Coast Capital in July 2002 following that credit union’s merger with Coast Capital. Coast Capital Savings is Canada’s second-largest credit union with total assets of $11.9 billion, 380,000 members and 51 branches in B.C. Its head office is in Surrey.
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Ballard Power Systems (TSX:BLD), a manufacturer of fuel-cell technology, says its CFO David Smith is resigning from the company effective Jan. 30 to join Finning International Inc. Smith will be replaced as acting CFO by Jay Murray, the Burnaby company’s corporate controller.
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Finning International Inc. (TSX:FTT) has appointed David Smith as executive VP and CFO effective Feb. 2. Smith had been CFO of Ballard Power Systems since December 2002. Based in Vancouver, Finning is the world’s largest Caterpillar equipment dealer.
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Con-Space Communications Ltd. (TSXV:CCB) has appointed Julie Nelson as its VP of marketing as CCB and Search Systems Inc. amalgamate their product portfolio. Nelson brings experience in sales, branding, marketing and communications. Con-Space is a confined space and technical rescue communications manufacturer with headquarters in Richmond.
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Buffalo Gold Ltd. (TSXV:BUF) has announced the departure of CEO Brian McEwen. McEwen will be replaced by Damien Reynolds, the Vancouver company’s executive chairman. The move comes as a deal that would have seen China Railway Group make a large investment in the company’s projects in Papua New Guinea and Australia has been terminated. BUF also said that due to lack of funding and its inability to service debts, it will lose mineral properties and related assets in Sardinia.
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New Pacific Metals Corp. (TSXV:NUX) has appointed Lou Duarte as NUX’s new president and CEO. He has served as a director of NUX since August 2006. Meng (Maria) Tang was appointed to the position of interim CFO. Tang brings five years of audit experience, most recently with Ernst & Young LLP. Based in Vancouver, New Pacific Metals Corp. is exploring for gold-polymetallic and base metals in Guangdong and Sichuan, China.
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Candente Resource Corp. (TSX: DNT) says Mark Katsumata has resigned as CFO to pursue other interests and has been replaced by Aurora Davidson. Since 2003, she has focused on providing part-time CFO services predominantly to companies in the mining sector. Candente is a Vancouver-based diversified exploration company with projects in Peru and Mexico.
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VMS Ventures Inc. (TSXV:VMS) has made Cheryl Messier its new CFO. She has worked the last 15 years in finance-related jobs, including acting as controller for VMS since mid-2008. VMS Ventures is focused on acquiring, exploring and developing properties in Manitoba. Its head office is in North Vancouver.
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Mickey Harley III has joined Xemplar Energy Corp. (TSXV:XE) as its president and a director. Peter Koep stands down as interim president, but will continue to serve as a director. Harley is the founder, CEO, president and senior portfolio manager of Fursa Alternative Strategies, a New York-based hedge fund that controls 19.9 percent of XE’s common shares. Xemplar Energy is a Vancouver-based resource company focused on uranium exploration in Namibia.
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Transeuro Energy Corp. (TSXV:TSU) has a new president and CEO. David Worrall previously was Transeuro’s COO. Hal Hemmerich, TSU’s former CEO, will continue with the company as its chairman. Transeuro is involved in the acquisition and development of petroleum and natural gas properties. Its head office is in Vancouver.
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Dorato Resources Inc. (TSXV:DRI) has appointed Keith Henderson as president and CEO, replacing Anton Drescher, who remains a director. Henderson previously was VP of exploration for Cardero Resource Corp. Based in Vancouver, Dorato is an exploration mining company focused on the Cordillera del Condor gold district in South America.
- with files from The Canadian Press (E-mail notices and photos at least two weeks before publication date to news@businessedge.ca)
